Georgia crash kills Ross boy; four family members hurt

Holiday travel plans turned tragic yesterday for a Ross family heading to a Florida vacation.

A semi plowed into the back of a Toyota van in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in McIntosh County, Ga., killing a 3-year-old boy and injuring his parents and siblings, Georgia State Patrol trooper Bruce DeLoach said.

Sean Thornton died at the scene. He was traveling with his parents, Susan, 38, and Daniel, 47; sister, Sarah, 5; and brother, Christopher, 8, to Ft. Myers, Fla., for a family vacation, DeLoach said.

"He plowed into them, and the cars became entangled," DeLoach said. "They went off the roadway and into the woods, knocking down a number of trees."

The crash occurred about 45 miles outside Savannah around 12:30 p.m. Heavy traffic had forced Susan Thornton to slow the family's van to about 5 mph when Willie Hill, 50, of Jacksonville drove his truck into them, DeLoach said.

Hill could face criminal charges. DeLoach said investigators will recreate the crash scene and file a report to the McIntosh County District Attorney's Office. A spokeswoman in the district attorney's office this morning said no charges had been filed.

Witnesses told police Hill was traveling about 70 mph and that he never braked before slamming into the Thorntons' van.

A doctor who saw the accident stopped and helped the victims, DeLoach said.

Susan Thornton suffered a broken foot that could require amputation, and Daniel Thornton has a broken jaw, DeLoach said. Sarah Thornton has a broken foot, leg and arm, and Christopher Thornton suffered a cracked skull, DeLoach said.

The Thorntons were taken by helicopter and ambulance to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. All are expected to survive.

Susan Thornton is in critical condition and Daniel Thornton is in good condition, hospital spokeswoman Dina Stoneking said this morning. She would not release information about the Thornton children.

Hill suffered a broken pelvis and leg. He also was taken to Memorial.

There was no indication that Hill was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt.

Joseph Thornton of West View, Daniel Thornton's brother, declined to comment.

The Thorntons' neighbor, Arlene McCrea, said Daniel Thornton grew up in the Ross home he lives in now.

"When I heard about it this morning, I just about fell on my knees," said McCrea, 68. "I just can't get that little boy out of my mind."

McCrea described the Thorntons as active, often taking their children skiing and hiking. She said she watched them bring Sean home from the hospital.

"They are just very nice young people," McCrea said. "My heart just goes out to them."

Staff writer Margaret Harding contributed to this report.