Atlanta Mother Syreeta Collins, daughter charged in crash that killed teacher

A mother and her daughter could face vehicular homicide charges in a crash that killed a Fulton County school teacher.

Syreeta Collins and her teenage daughter were charged in connection to the accident, but investigators said the charges could be upgraded on Wednesday.

Collins told Channel 2’s Amy Napier Viteri that she is praying for the families affected by Monday’s deadly accident, but she did not want to talk further about what happened.

Police said Collins’ teenage daughter was driving on Camp Creek Parkway when she hit another car carrying Sandtown Middle School teacher Shireen Haynes, who died in the crash.

The two other passengers in Haynes’ car, James and Kay Price, were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Family members said the Prices’ conditions have improved. Kay Price is also a teacher at Sandtown Middle School.

”Mom had surgery. She’s doing really well. Like I said, they’re two walking miracles right now, the Prices’ daughter, Tonya Thompson, said.

Thompson said her mother is now out of intensive care and her father is stable.

Detective Lisa Parker said the teen driver is charged with driving on a restricted license, suspended registration and failure to maintain a lane. Collins is charged in connection with allowing her to drive alone – her daughter’s license required a licensed adult be in the front seat with her at all times.

”We do believe her mother drove her to a location to pick up one of their vehicles and actually placed her daughter behind the wheel to follow her back, Parker said.

Parker said investigators will meet with the District Attoey’s Office on Wednesday to discuss whether to charge the mother and daughter with vehicular homicide. She said it is still unclear what caused the teen to lose control of the vehicle.

”Very inexperienced driver. We don’t know if she was distracted, yet, at this point. All of that is under investigation, Parker said.

Police will also work to recreate the accident scene later this week in order to lea more about how the crash happened.