Driver Charged in Deaths of Cartersville Infant, Two Women

A Calhoun man has been charged in the fatal accident that claimed the lives of an infant and two women, all from Cartersville, on Christmas Day

The investigating Georgia State Patrol trooper took out warrants and Brent Leighton Lynch of Calhoun, was charged and jailed in the Gordon County Detention Center Wednesday night.

Lynch has been charged with:

• Three counts of first degree vehicular homicide
• One count of feticide by vehicle
• Two counts of serious injury by vehicle
• DUI
• Driving on the wrong side of the road, and
• Failing to maintain lane.

The crash occurred Tuesday at 5:47 p.m. on Georgia Highway 53 near Mauldin in Gordon County.

The crash killed April Nacoale Winters and two passengers in her vehicle – Tanika Latrice Ackies, 21, of Cartersville, and 27-day-old Niyla Raine Ackies, also of Cartersville.

Alexis Gardner, 20, and Ratanza Winters, 20, both of Cartersville and passengers in the Kia, were injured in the crash and taken to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN, for treatment.

Lynch and a passenger in his vehicle, Crystal Lynch, 35, of Calhoun, also were injured and taken to Erlanger.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Tanika and Niyla Ackies. Visitation for  Tanika Ackies will be Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, 5-8 p.m. at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cartersville. Services will be on Saturday, Jan. 5, with interment at Sunset Memory Gardens in Cartersville.

The arrest information was supplied by the Georgia State Patrol. It does not indicate a conviction.