Troopers: Church van flips on Georgia highway, killing at least 4 and injuring 15

4 killed when Ga. church van flips; 15 injured

BLAKELY, Ga. — Four people died when a church van overturned and flipped multiple times after blowing a tire on a southwest Georgia highway, ejecting all 19 people inside, authorities said Monday.

In addition to those who were killed, 15 passengers were injured in the crash Sunday evening on U.S. 27 south of Blakely, said Gordy Wright, spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol.

Wright said the passengers included at least two children younger than 2 years old, but he did not know if they were among the dead or injured.

Surviving passengers were taken to area hospitals. It was unclear Monday how seriously they were hurt, but Wright said it appears no one in the van was wearing a seat belt.

“They were all ejected,” Wright said. “Anytime you have an ejection, especially in a crash like that, the injuries are going to be serious.”

The van was on its way to a revival in Florida when a rear tire blew out, causing the driver to lose control, Wright said. The vehicle hit the median and flipped several times.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The 1987 Dodge Ram Wagon van, with an intended capacity of 15 passengers, was from the Tabernacle of Prayer and Deliverance in Columbus, Wright said. A phone listing for the church was disconnected.

Early County Coroner Todd Hunter declined to release names or ages of the victims.