Mother and Two Children, Ages 7 and 13, Killed in Lee County

In the span of four days, a father of three lost his partner, his daughter, and then his son, the last one dying in his arms.

A woman and two of her children were killed when a suspected drunk driver slammed into their car while traveling the wrong way on a Georgia highway.

The crash unfolded on the night of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, along U.S. 82 in Lee County. Georgia State Patrol confirmed that 32-year-old Bernedine Spann was driving with her daughter, 13-year-old Ja'Leah, and seven-year-old son Jaxton when another vehicle, allegedly traveling in the wrong direction, struck them head-on.

The driver of the other car has been identified as 41-year-old Sherita Goddard. Authorities say she is suspected of being under the influence at the time of the crash. Bernedine and Ja'Leah were pronounced dead at the scene.

He Took His Last Breath in His Father's Arms

Jaxton was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries. For four days, his family hoped he would survive. But on January 18, his father, James Spann, shared the heartbreaking news that his youngest son had died.

"On January 18,2026 at 1:38 my baby boy transition to be with his mother and sister taking his last breath and heartbeat in my arms," James shared in a Facebook post. "Our last photo together if only this moment could of last forever. Unfortunately it just a unforgettable memory. The #spann5 is down to the #Jamesduo. Don't drink and drive it takes others lives."

Sherita and her passenger, who is believed to be her daughter, were both injured and taken to a hospital after the crash. Their conditions have not been made public. As of Wednesday, officials had not announced whether charges would be filed.

Outrage over Accountability

Bernedine's longtime friend, Shonda James, spoke with fury about the woman suspected of causing the crash.

"She needs to be held accountable to the full extent. She killed people — they did not have to die. She needs to take accountability. She needs to go to jail. I have no sympathy. I have no forgiveness for her at this moment," she said.

Shonda also expressed frustration that Sherita had been allowed behind the wheel at all.

She expressed, "It was negligent for them to let her drive drunk from wherever she was coming from, and it's the fact that she did not care; she made a [conscious] decision to get behind the wheel with children in her car and drive on the wrong side of the freaking road."

Only One Child Survives

The crash left one child in the Spann family behind — Bernedine's other son, James III, who was not in the car that night.

Ja'Leah and Jaxton were both students in Randolph County Schools. Ja'Leah was in the eighth grade, Jaxton in second. The school district released a statement confirming their deaths and said counseling would be made available for students and staff.

An online fundraiser launched shortly after the crash has raised more than $34,000 of its $35,000 goal to cover funeral and medical expenses.

The GoFundMe page described the incident as a "senseless tragedy" and said the family was relying on their faith during this time of unimaginable grief.

A Community in Mourning

Mourners turned to social media to honor Bernedine's life and mourn the loss of her family.

"A Daughter A sister, A friend and MOST IMPORTANTLY A MOTHER! She was a classmate to me and my Co Workers daughter," a person named April Giles posted. "This young lady has made a huge impact on a lot of people's lives! She was always smiling and always ready to make you laugh. Bernedine Tyeisha you made your mark girl!"

Others voiced their anger. "Sherita Peterman Goddard we heard you like to drink and get in your car you killed my sister and her baby bruh ALLEGEDLY," wrote Morgan Williams Spann.

The tragic loss of the Spann family is one of several recent incidents in which entire families have been torn apart by devastating roadway accidents.

Nearly two months ago, a Colorado family's world was shattered beyond comprehension on Monday afternoon when another vehicle crashed head-on into theirs, killing five people — four of them from the same family, and three of them children.

The horrific collision unfolded around 4:39 p.m. on November 24, 2025, along Highway 83 near Russellville Road in Douglas County, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Suspect Veers Into Oncoming Traffic, Leaving Devastation Behind

Just over an hour earlier, one of the vehicles involved — a Toyota Matrix — had been reported stolen from an RTD station in Aurora.

The suspect behind the wheel? Thirty-one-year-old Walter Huling, who investigators say was driving the stolen Toyota when he veered into oncoming traffic, slamming straight into a Ford sedan carrying the Corado family.

Walter, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the Toyota and died at the scene.

A Family Shattered: Army Reservist and Three Children Killed in the Wreck

Inside the Ford were 35-year-old Army reservist Alvin Corado, his three children — Toretto, 8; MaKenlee, 12; and Mia, 13 — and his girlfriend's two sons, Jase Green, 12, and Jordan Green, 14.

Alvin, Toretto, MaKenlee, and Jase were all killed instantly. Only Mia and Jordan survived, both with catastrophic injuries. They were airlifted to the Children's Hospital Colorado in critical condition.

Mia sustained a lacerated liver, fractured pelvis, and a hole in her esophagus, according to her uncle, Jose Rodriguez. Jordan's injuries included two broken femurs and multiple facial fractures.

The Stolen Car, the Hijacking, and a Preventable Nightmare

Only an hour before the deadly crash, Walter had ripped the Toyota Matrix away from its owner at a parking garage in Aurora — a mere 20 miles away. The woman told police she was getting into her car when a man approached, asked for a ride, and when she refused, pulled her from the vehicle and sped off.

This senseless theft led directly to the deaths of four innocent people — all of whom had simply been on their way to visit a mother recovering from surgery.

Jose confirmed that the Corados were driving to see Alvin's girlfriend — the mother of Jase and Jordan — who had just undergone spinal fusion surgery that morning.

Life360 Alert Was First Clue Family Was in Trouble

According to Jose, it was the Life360 app that first tipped off relatives to the unfolding tragedy. "My fiancé noticed there was a crash alert," he recalled. He said the app showed the family's car had gone from 57 mph to a dead stop in an instant.

"Marissa has had Life360 for a min, but because Marissa was going to be out of town while the kids were with their dad, Mia insisted more of us download it and join her 360," he added.

It was through a mix of law enforcement updates and haunting social media posts that the family began to piece together the magnitude of what had occurred.

"Just too much information, the fluidity and the information, I knew was true," Jose said.

'Like Losing Another Son': The Agony of Confirmation

The moment the family learned that Toretto and MaKenlee were gone will forever be etched into their memories. "It's like losing another son. It's exactly how it feels — and losing a daughter," Jose shared, his grief raw and unspeakable.

Thirteen-year-old Mia and 14-year-old Jordan remain hospitalized, still fighting to recover from their injuries. On Wednesday night, Mia woke up after surgery and was removed from sedation and intubation.

Her mother, Marissa, later shared on Facebook that Mia's first words were asking where her father was. After being told that her father and siblings had died, she simply said, "I know."

Mia later recalled that she had remained conscious during the crash — and even tried to help her family. "The things Mia saw and went through is something that no person should ever have to witness, let alone a 13-year-old witnessing of her very own family," Marissa wrote.

'Just Firecrackers': Remembering the Corado Children

Jose described Mia as someone who was always smiling, always protective of others. "Mia, you know she's always happy making sure everyone is okay," he said.

He painted a vivid picture of the Corado siblings — full of personality, energy, and promise. "Just firecrackers. [MaKenlee's] always got the jokes. Toretto is always full of life, building little inventions with his papers. Spider-Man was always his favorite," he shared.

Toretto had recently joined a gifted program, while MaKenlee had triumphed over a severe form of epilepsy and had just started playing volleyball.

Alvin, their father, had acted heroically, Jose added. "Alvin did everything he could to avoid the accident," he stated. "There were multiple signs based on what the authorities told us that he veered the vehicle as soon as he could to try to make the impact on him and not the children."

A Suspect with 15 Arrests and a System That Failed

Walter was no stranger to law enforcement. He had been arrested 15 times between 2013 and 2019 — for assault, bribery, burglary, DUI, parole violations, and more.

He had served two prison terms, most recently a six-year sentence for a 2019 assault in downtown Denver, where he knocked a man unconscious, assaulted the man's wife, and then attacked the responding police officer.

George Brauchler, the district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, openly questioned how someone with such a violent, repeat criminal history could be walking free.

"I mean, it's an 11-page criminal history that dates back to when this guy was a juvenile," Brauchler said. "This guy's criminal history and the fact that he appears to have been on parole and this happened seems like we are failing the community."

Community Rallies to Help Grieving Families as Survivors Fight On

In the days since the devastating crash, the Corado family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for funeral costs, transport the bodies of Toretto and MaKenlee back to Sioux Falls, and support Marissa as she remains by Mia's side during her recovery.

As of Friday, the fundraiser had raised more than $86,000 of its $130,000 goal. Jose had one final message for the public: "Hug your kids a little tighter tonight... You don't know how life can change in an instant," he said.