A tragic accident has left a 10-year-old girl and a man dead. The two-car accident happened on Buckner Road near its intersection with U.S. Highway 31 in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

According to the Tennessean, the driver of a Honda Accord for some reason slumped over in his vehicle, ran over an embankment at a Daily’s Market parking lot and collided with a Ford SUV, in which the girl was a passenger.

Rescue crews apparently found the girl pinned inside the SUV. After they managed to extricate her, she was airlifted via LifeFlight to Williamson Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another child and the girl’s father were treated at the scene. Their conditions were not clear following the wreck. The driver of the Honda was also taken to Williamson Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Spring Hill Fire Department first responders had to work the wreck for about an hour and a half. The fire chief says some of his staff has never seen an accident like this before.

The girl who died was a fifth grader at Heritage Elementary School. When students return next week, instead of being reunited with their friend, they will be greeted by grief counselors to help them work through the tragic loss.

The upcoming holiday weekend can be a deadly one on the roads. Too many drivers get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t, after they’ve had a few drinks. Please drive responsibly.

Source: The Tennessean, “10-year-old girl, man die in Spring Hill wreck,” Dec. 30, 2011