Three days after the two-vehicle crash in Rabun County that claimed the life of 8-year-old Ian Echols, his mother, who was severely injured in the crash, also passed away.
Gretchen Echols, 41, of Clayton, died Saturday, October 9 from her injuries.
The accident happened Wednesday afternoon, October 6, on U.S. Highway 76 West at Charlie Mountain Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol, Echols was driving west on Highway 76 in a 2014 Ford Taurus when she lost control and ran into the path of an eastbound 2018 Ford F150.
The truck hit the car’s right rear passenger side door, fatally injuring her son. The other backseat passenger, a 7-year-old, was also hurt. He was taken to the hospital by personal vehicle and then transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care.
The driver of the pickup truck, 68-year-old Clyde Martin of Clayton, was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with minor injuries.
Gretchen Echols suffered severe injuries in the wreck and was in the Intensive Care Unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville before she passed away.
“Our hearts are broken,” Gretchen’s mother, Pat DeVarnass, tweets. “We will always love and miss you both.”
Ian and Gretchen leave behind father and husband Matthew, brother and son Bruce and sister and daughter Madison.
According to Echols’ obituary, there will be a joint celebration of Gretchen and Ian Echols’ lives on Friday, October 15 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of the Beck Funeral Home in Clayton, Georgia. The family has asked for donations to be made in Ian’s memory to F.A.I.T.H or to Rabun County Bank Memorial Fund for the Echols’ family in lieu of flowers.
For those who would like to offer financial support to the Echols family, a GoFundMe has been set up to assist with funeral and medical expenses.
This article has been updated
