Two hours in: OC’s first 2014 tragedy

Post-mortems take place today to help the coroner’s office document the fatal injuries suffered by two Oconee County children in yesterday’s accident in which their mother was the driver. According to the highway patrol, the driver was Melissa Cassandra Patton. The Dodge Durango driven by Patton hit a Utica Baptist Church sign on the Wells Highway and overturned. Patton, along with an unidentified passenger, went to the Oconee Medical Center for treatment. Coroner Karl Addis identified Patton’s young children as the fatal victims in the accident: one-year old Taniya Chavez Leann Gambrell and four-year old Saryia Unique Patton-Dean. The children lived at 526 Ravenel Circle. And the accident that took their lives occurred at 2:15 a-m New Year’s Day. Trooper Billy Elder says the patrol’s major accident investigation team is investigating.  The booking report at the Oconee Detention Center lists the following charges against Patton”  driving under suspension first offense and two charges of felony driving under the influence — death results;