On Wednesday, July 11, 2012, two female co-workers were killed in a tragic Douglas County car crash. The fatal Georgia auto accident occurred when their car was struck by a semi-truck on Thornton Road.
Tracy Downer, 44 years old, was only on her third day of work at her new job. She was riding along with Michelle Chinnis, a 35-year-old co-worker, to learn more about Downer’s new advertising position for AutoTrader.com. Chinnis had been with the company since 2004 and was teaching Downer the ropes.
According to witnesses of the wreck, the truck driver ran a red light and struck the car. However, the Georgia State Police did not give the trucker a citation right away. They were still investigating the crash the following day.
Downer was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Chinnis was extricated from her car; however, she later died from the injuries she suffered from this accident. Downer is survived by her son, daughter, and husband. Chinnis is survived by her 16-year-old daughter. Their co-workers held a memorial in their honor.
According to the police, the truck driver, 64-year-old Robert John Sansom of Colorado, was not injured in the wreck. However, four other people in other vehicles suffered injuries as a result of this crash.
Our Douglas County accident attorneys at Shane Smith Law extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of both Tracy Downer and Michelle Chinnis. We wish the others who suffered injuries a full and speedy recovery.