A crash report filed by authorities in Cherokee County, Alabama details the reckless driving and subsequent collision that killed two adults and injured seven children in August at the Indian Mountain ATV Park.

The report places substantial blame for the tragic incident on the driver, Marcus Ragland, 34, of Rome, Georgia, concluding that speed and driving on the wrong side of the trail were the direct causes of the accident. Ragland died at the scene. His passenger, Ashley Hawkins, 31, also of Rome, was critically injured and later pronounced dead at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

The crash occurred while all nine individuals were riding in a single 2019 Polaris Razor ATV.

According to the crash details, Ragland was driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed—estimated conservatively at least 45 miles per hour—while traveling on the wrong side of a trail designated for two-way traffic.

Investigators determined that as Ragland approached another ATV, the driver of the oncoming vehicle attempted to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision. Ragland’s Razor struck the front passenger-side tire of the other ATV, causing his vehicle to flip violently before crashing into a nearby tree.

The report states that Ragland was immediately thrown from the vehicle and killed. Hawkins and all seven children riding in the ATV suffered various injuries in the rollover.

Alcohol and Drugs Found at the Scene

In the chaotic aftermath of the crash, investigators noted potentially compounding factors related to substance use.

Witnesses at the park reported to deputies that before law enforcement arrived, other individuals rushed to the scene and removed a cooler containing alcohol, allegedly stating they did so because they “could get in trouble.”

Furthermore, the initial report noted that investigators smelled marijuana near the crash site, though it was too dark to locate any during the initial processing. Owners of the ATV park later located marijuana near the wreckage and reported the discovery to authorities.

Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a bag containing suspected fentanyl pills found inside the driver’s side door of Hawkins’ personal vehicle, which was parked at the park.

Injured Children Transported

The seven children involved in the crash, whose ages have not been released, were all injured.

Four of the children were transported by air to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia. They were reportedly treated for their injuries and released shortly after arrival.

The remaining three children sustained more serious injuries and were flown to a hospital in Birmingham. There is currently no update on their conditions.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has not released further details regarding potential charges related to the drug findings, as the crash investigation focuses primarily on determining the cause of the fatal collision.