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Two children, former wife of local assistant school principal, killed in crash

The youngest child of Rebecca and Ben Bachman is recovering, and his father calling it a miracle.
Photo: GoFundMe

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- People across metro Atlanta and beyond are in mourning, following news that two children of an assistant school principal, along with his former wife--their mother--were killed Sunday in a tragic accident, a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 75.

Rebecca Bachman, 42, and two of her three children, Lauren Bachman, 15, and Daniel Bachman, 13, were killed while traveling on I-75 southbound; their vehicle struck a tractor-trailer that had slowed due to traffic near Jacksboro, Tenn.

Her youngest child, 10-year-old Jake Bachman, was seriously injured, as noted in a fundraising page set up for the family.

The children's father, and Rebecca's former husband, Ben Bachman, is the 7th grade assistant principal at Richards Middle School in Gwinnett County. He is currently at a Knoxville, Tenn., children's hospital with his surviving son, who suffered a broken neck, multiple other bone fractures and a collapsed lung.

"Because of the circumstances of the crash, he should not have survived," said Ben Bachman. "But he's a miracle child, and due to God's mercy and protection he will make a full recovery."

Bachman called Rebecca "an amazing mother, a hard worker, she was an amazing person who loved her kids more than anything else."

Rebecca "Becky" Bachman was a nurse in the emergency department at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.

Her supervisor at the hospital, Kim Moreira, called her an incredible person and the epitome of a good nurse with a positive spirit. Moreira said Becky mentored new E.D. nurses, and was loved and respected by co-workers, doctors and patients--a relentless advocate for patients. Moreira said Becky was a lifelong learner and was studying to be a nurse practitioner.

According to a hospital spokesperson, Becky Bachman went to work as a nurse at NGMC Braselton's emergency department in July, 2016, after working for six years as a nurse at NGMC Barrow (formerly Barrow Regional Medical Center).

Becky and her children were traveling home after visiting relatives in Michigan.

All four in the vehicle were wearing their seat belts, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

►RELATED: Three killed, one injured after multi-car wreck on I-75 south identified

"Mr. Bachman's school, Richards Middle School, notified its community about Mr. Bachman's loss, and word of this heartbreaking news has spread throughout the district," said the Gwinnett County school system in a statement. "All of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time."

Richards Middle School posted a message on its Facebook page saying, "Please keep Mr. Bachman and his family in your thoughts and send your love his way. We are heartbroken for his loss."

"The outpouring of love and support, kind words, messages, is really helping not only myself but my family to get through this,” Ben Bachman said. "I just can't thank everyone enough for the kindness. Words fail to express the gratitude that I have for everyone. It has gone so far to help myself and my family, and I just appreciate the prayers and the kindness of everyone."

Click here for a link to the GoFundMe established to help the Bachman family.

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