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Monday, Oct. 12, 2009

UPDATE: Cruise control malfunction may have contributed to Laurens death

An 11-year-old girl died in a crash Sunday afternoon at the interchange of U.S. 441 and Interstate 16, the Georgia State Patrol reported.

Cheyenne Kittrell of Rockledge in Laurens County died at the scene, while her grandfather, William Kittrell, 70, also of Rockledge, was taken to the Augusta Burn Center, said Sgt. K.E. DeLoach, the Dublin post commander.

William Kittrell was traveling west on I-16 in a 1997 Ford Econoline van when he took the U.S. 441 exit ramp just before 3 p.m. On the ramp, the van struck a curb and a tire blew, sending the van across both lanes of 441 and down the other exit ramp. The van veered off the roadway and went down a steep embankment, hit a tree and caught fire, DeLoach said.

Kittrell told troopers he was having trouble with his cruise control and that it became stuck in the on position. Troopers are still working to substantiate Kittrell’s statement, DeLoach said.

He said Kittrell had no prior medical conditions that might have contributed to the accident.

Kittrell was listed in serious condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta this morning, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The crash remains under investigation.

Writer Amy Leigh Womack contributed to this report.