VALDOSTA – Two people were killed Saturday night in one traffic accident along Interstate 75 caused by heavy rainfall, the other when traffic was stopped by the first incident.

John Richard, 13, of Conyers died in the first accident, according to a report from Georgia State Patrol Post 31. Ryan Forness, 32, of Eveleth, Minn., was killed in the subsequent collision, according to the GSP.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, a white Nissan Altima, driven by Ernst Richard, 41, of Conyers, traveled northbound in the middle lane, at mile-marker 14, I-75, according to the GSP.

“Mr. Richard lost control of his vehicle due to inclement weather,” according to the GSP report. “The Altima traveled off the west shoulder of the roadway and struck a guardrail. After striking the guardrail, the Altima traveled back onto the roadway and came to rest in the middle northbound lane facing east.”

A Peterbilt auto-hauler traveled north in the middle lane behind the Altima; Wilian Duque, 42, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., tried swerving to avoid the Altima but was unable to do so, according to the GSP. The passenger side of the truck struck the rear passenger side of the Altima.

A Honda Civic driven by Justin Howard, 26, of Valdosta was behind the Altima and the truck, according to the GSP. The Altima rotated after being struck by the Peterbilt and the car and driver side of the Civic collided, according to reports.

Ernst Richard along with 33-year-old passenger Barbara Richard, 17-year-old passenger Syndie Richard, 5-year-old passenger Bella Richard and 13-year-old passenger John Richard were all transported to South Georgia Medical Center by Lowndes EMS, according to the GSP. 

“Ernst Richard, Barbara Richard and Syndie Richard sustained non-incapacitating injuries,” according to the report. “Bella Richard was flown via AirMed to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. John Richard succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. All three children were unrestrained in the vehicle at the time of the collision.”

Duque and Howard were not injured and wore seatbelts, according to the GSP.

The middle and right northbound lanes of I-75 were closed until shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday. 

The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident.

While traffic was stopped as a result of the collision, the second fatal collision occurred.

At about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, a Peterbilt tractor-trailer, driven by John Reynolds, 56, of Memphis, Tenn., was stopped northbound in the middle lane at mile marker 13, according to the GSP.

 A Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Forness, traveled north in the middle lane. 

“The Silverado failed to stop and struck the trailer of the semi in the rear end with the front end of the Silverado,” according to the report. “Mr. Forness was unrestrained and sustained a fatal injury in the collision.”

Reynolds and his passenger, Keisha Little of Reynolds, were not injured, according to the GSP. 

The middle and left lanes of northbound I-75 were closed until about 2 a.m.