SENECA, S.C. — Authorities said 6-year-old twin boys who weren't wearing seatbelts died in a South Carolina wreck and their mother is charged with driving under the influence.
The Highway Patrol said the head-on crash happened around 10 p.m. Sunday on state Highway 183, west of Pickens.
Troopers said Jennifer Knox was in a BMW and struck a Kia head-on while trying to pass a vehicle towing a boat in a no pass zone.
Channel 9 spoke with the woman who was towing the boat that Knox attempted to pass.
She said the BMW came out of nowhere behind her while she was stopping to turn into her driveway.
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Troopers said the BMW flipped on its top, skidded and then hit a ditch, ejecting the children and Knox who was also not wearing a seatbelt.
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Authorities said Dylan Clark and Camryn Clark of Seneca were killed.
Parent Becky Westmoreland showed Channel 9 reporter Greg Suskin a class photo with her son and Dylan in it. She said she cried all night.
"I’m shaking even talking about it,” she said. “I didn't even know how to tell my son that his friend wouldn't be at school today."
"It was really difficult, as a parent, to have to explain to a 6-year-old what happened. The teachers have been great," parent Alaina Sweeney said.
Grief counselors were at Northside Elementary School Tuesday for students, teachers and staff.
“Their teacher has been amazing in reaching out to make sure we have the support we need or that our child would need," a parent said.
Troopers said Knox, 38, was taken by helicopter to the hospital. She faces two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, child endangerment and other charges.
The father of the two boys will have the bodies sent back to Florida for funeral arrangements. His family set up a GoFundMe here.
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Associated Press
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