Young Parents Killed in ATV Park Crash on Holiday Weekend and 7 Kids Under 12 Were Hospitalized

Two parents have been identified as the adults killed in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) park crash in Alabama over the weekend that also injured seven children.

Marcus Ragland, 34, and 31-year-old Ashley Hawkins, both from Rome, Ga., were killed on Saturday, Aug. 30, Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald said in a statement.

“The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Ragland and Ms. Hawkins during this difficult time,” McDonald’s office said. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all who are affected by this tragic loss.”

Ragland and Hawkins reportedly had two children together and were also parents separately: Ragland was father to 10 children, and Hawkins was mother to three, according to WAGA.

“I’m still waiting on him to come through the door,” Felicia Towers, Ragland’s mother, told WXIA. “But I know he’s not coming.”

According to AL.com and a statement from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened on Saturday when two utility task vehicles (UTVs) carrying 11 people collided on a trail at Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont.

Officials said nine people were in one UTV, while the other had two passengers. The larger group’s vehicle “overturned and struck a tree” after the collision, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The driver was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene by Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald. The remaining eight occupants were also injured,” the sheriff’s office said.

The adult woman in the group, identified as Hawkins, later died from her injuries, authorities said.

Seven children, ranging in age from 1 to 12, were initially hospitalized.

The crash is still under investigation. Officials said neither a safety harness nor restraint was used in the UTV carrying Ragland and Hawkins, according to AL.com.

“This is a tragic accident and highlights the importance of operating RZRs and other recreational vehicles in a safe and responsible manner,” Cherokee Sheriff Jeff Shaver said.

The driver and passenger in the other UTV were not hurt.

“This is just so hard to deal with. It’s just so hard,” Towers, Ragland’s mother, told WANF. “I’m going to miss him. I loved him. He was a good boy. He was really fun to be around. He met no strangers. He was friends with everyone.”

Audrey Dunn, who has a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old with Ragland, told WXIA that her older child “remembers everything that happened.”

“He told me when we got to the hospital, ‘Mom, my dad died, but it’s okay because he’ll be back to get me tomorrow,'” Dunn said. “He doesn’t understand that he will never see him again.”

Four of the children have since been discharged from the hospital, including Dunn’s two kids, WAGA reported.

“My 1-year-old is limping, and his face is scratched up pretty bad. [My other son] has a gash on the top of his head, but he’s okay, so thank God the babies are okay,” Dunn said.

Towers told WXIA that her son went to the ATV park every weekend.

“This time he wanted to take his children with him, you know, to share the fun,” she said. “They were ready to go, so it just ended up being a tragedy. I just hate it.”

Maya Boyett, a friend of Ragland and Hawkins, told WANF: “They were both good people, good to their kids. And I really hate that they’re gone now.”

Located in the Appalachian Mountain range, Indian Mountain ATV Park is a private off-road park with 4,700 acres, according to its website. The park offers off-highway vehicle riding, camping, fishing, and hiking.

“Scenes like this are always difficult, especially when they involve children,” Coroner McDonald said. “Please do everything you can to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ragland’s children, and as of Monday, Sept. 1, it had raised more than $2,400.

In an email to PEOPLE, Jennifer Fife, the fundraiser organizer, said the injured children are doing better.

“Marcus was a devoted dad, son, and brother,” Fife said. “[He] loved his family and loved to have fun. He paid the ultimate price Saturday when he took his children to enjoy the Labor Day weekend.”

“These kids lost their daddy,” Fife added. “They needed him, they loved him, he loved them… such a sad, sad time for them all. All caregivers for the children and the children are going to need as much help as possible.”