6-Year-Old Girl Dies in Ga. 316 Accident in Barrow County

A 6-year-old Statham girl was killed in a two-car accident Wednesday evening on Ga. 316 in Barrow County, the Georgia State Patrol said.

Gracelynn Perry was ejected when the car driven by Mary Kathleen Perry turned in front of a tractor-trailer truck at the intersection of University Parkway and Christmas Avenue near Bethlehem, according to news reports. WXIA-TV reported the truck driver is from Statesboro and has cooperated with investigators.

Witnesses said the sun was setting at the time of the crash, around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, creating glare on the roadway, WSB-TV reported.

Mary Kathleen Perry was travelling west on Ga. 316 when she apparently attempted a left turn at a traffic light, Online Athens reported. She was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The state patrol said the girl died at the scene. The impact of the wreck sheared the passenger side of the car, separating the seat belts from the vehicle.

Barrow County Emergency Services said the wreck shut down Ga. 316 in both directions for several hours.