Newton Citizen

Photo by Brian Giandelone

CONYERS -- A Heritage High School honor student and his 13-year-old sister were killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday morning on McDaniel Mill Road, near Smyrna Road.

Karl Michael Anschutz, 18, a senior at Heritage and Laura Anschutz, a student at Davis Middle School, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident that occurred a quarter of a mile from Smyrna Road.

The driver of the other vehicle, a Covington man in a pick-up truck, was transported to Atlanta Medical Center and later released, according to Rockdale County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Jodi Shupe.

According to an RCSO press release, Karl Anschutz was driving a 1992 BMW 735il sedan south on McDaniel Mill Road taking his sister to school at Davis Middle School. When they went over a hill and around a curve, Anschutz lost control of the car, overcorrected and crossed into the path of the oncoming pick-up truck, according to the RCSO.

Scott Glover, a resident who lives near where the accident occurred, said he heard the crash and walked out to see what happened. He described the scene as a horrific sight and said, "They never had a chance."

Glover said the stretch of road is dangerous and he has seen several accidents in the 14 years he and his wife have lived there. A few years ago, a car flipped over and landed on his mailbox.

"It's a bad curve, and people come over it way too fast," Glover said, speaking to reporters in his front yard. "This is bad for anybody, but it's especially hard because two kids died. I can't imagine what the family is going through."

School officials declined to release any information concerning the students. School administrators said they were not allowed to discuss the accident and referred all inquires to the Rockdale County Public Schools Central Office.

"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these students," said Cindy Ball, director of community relations for Rockdale County Public Schools. "We will have our crisis teams and counselors available for students and staff."