9 of 17 boat accident victims from one family

Authorities said nine of the 17 people who died in a duck boat accident are from the same family. A spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said that another two members of the same family survived when the boat capsized on Table Rock Lake near the tourist town of Branson. The nine members of one family who died in the accident were from Indianapolis, according to a family member who talked with Channel 2’s Carl Willis Friday evening. That family member gave Channel 2 a photo of the family. The two people who survived are the woman on the far left of the photo and the young boy on the far right. One victim is not pictured in the photo. Channel 2's @CarlWillisWSB confirms that the 9 family members who died in the duck boat accident were from Indianapolis. Carl talked with another family member who wasn't on the boat. He shared this photo with us. The woman on the far left and the boy on the far right survived. pic.twitter.com/gfcXwPg9YH — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) July 20, 2018 TRENDING STORIES: WARNING! Investigators say woman going around posing as DFACS worker 100+ pounds of pot confiscated during traffic stop (PHOTO) Georgia police officer says prayer over boy before brain surgery The duck boat capsized Thursday evening when a thunderstorm hit the area and brought winds that approached near-hurricane speeds. A total of 29 passengers and two crew members were on the boat when it capsized. The boat's driver was among those killed. A resident of Branson said she understands how the boat got caught on the lake before it capsized because of a sudden change in the weather that day. Trisha Ayers said she saw the weather change in 10 minutes Thursday from sunny to gale force winds that were bending traffic signs. Ayers called the fatal accident a 'fluke' and said she hopes it doesn't tarnish Branson because most of the city's income comes from tourists. She and her family moved to Branson 3 1/2 years ago after visiting regularly from their previous hometown in the Kansas City area. Stone Mountain Park sent Channel 2 Action News a statement Friday evening, saying they had suspended their Duck Boat ride: 'All of us at Stone Mountain Park are heartbroken about the accident that happened last evening on Ride the Ducks in Branson, Missouri. Our prayers are with the victims, their families and the team at Ripley Entertainment. 'As always, safety is our top priority here at Stone Mountain Park. Therefore, we have suspended our Ride the Ducks operation until more information about the Branson tragedy becomes available.' The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former teacher accused of pulling out 7-year-old's hair charged with child cruelty

Roswell police said a former private school elementary teacher got so angry at a student, she pulled her hair out. “A teacher of a 7-year-old child was upset,” Officer Lisa Holland said. “She was messing around with some hand sanitizer, and the teacher got upset with her for that and yanked her hair back so hard that it actually pulled one of her braids out of her hair.” Holland said the girl began to cry and reported the incident to school officials, who notified police. Police told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik the incident happened in September 2015 at the International Charter School of Atlanta, but it took nearly three years for police to track Josie Djachechi down to answer to a charge of felony cruelty to children.   Authorities in Gwinnett County picked her up two weeks ago on the outstanding warrant. Records show she was booked into the Fulton County jail and bonded out. TRENDING STORIES: Restaurant tries shaming teen who used quarters to pay, inspires campaign to buy other's meals 2 charged after video of brawl with Atlanta police surfaces online Recent high school grad found dead in crashed car after weeklong search “The teacher’s job is to protect students,” said Holland. “They are their caregiver for the day, and it’s unfortunate that this girl was hurt by that teacher.” Djachechi’s former employer sent Petchenik an emailed statement: “The International Charter School of Atlanta (ICSAtlanta) does not provide comments on former employees and personnel matters. Please note that Ms. Djachechi has not been employed with ICSAtlanta since October 2015.” Djachechi was to appear in court Friday for a hearing, but court officials told Channel 2 Action News the hearing was postponed, pending a grand jury indictment.   She did not respond to Petchenik’s request for her side of the story. Community members told Petchenik they are shocked by the allegations. “I don’t think she needs to be teaching. Got some anger issues,” said Sue Harmon. “That’s terrible.  If my child came home like that, I’d be down at that school.”

Man killed, wife injured in head-on collision in Forsyth County

An 87-year-old Cumming man was killed Thursday in a head-on collision in Forsyth County when another vehicle crossed over into his travel lane, authorities said. Connie Mack Lathem was in the passenger seat of a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze, traveling east on Canton Highway, when the car collided with a 2002 Lexus sedan. Deputies and fire officials responded to the crash site about noon.Forsyth County deputies believe the Lexus crossed over a painted yellow median near Carla Drive and hit the Chevrolet, sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Doug Rainwater said after a preliminary investigation. The driver of the Chevrolet, 74-year-old Bunia Lathem, was seriously injured in the crash, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening. She is being treated at an area hospital. Her husband, Connie Mack Lathem, was rushed to North Fulton Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the Lexus was also seriously injured. Brandon Schneider, 26, is being treated at an area hospital and is expected to recover. Traffic investigators are still looking into the cause of the crash. “Charges pending the outcome of the investigation,” Rainwater said. Return to AJC.com for updates.