A July 4th holiday trip to see family turned tragic for a Henderson County family.

The Jones family members were on their way to visit other family in Blue Ridge, Georgia, on the early afternoon of July 4 when they were involved in a car accident where another car pulled out in front of them, according to a family friend who spoke with News 13 on July 11.

In the car at the time were Evadora Jones, her daughter Evadora Grace Jones, her son Reed Jones and Evadora Grace's best friend, Sydney Alvaro.

Evadora Grace Jones, who just turned 11 in May was a rising sixth grader planning to attend Rugby Middle School, suffered critical injuries in the accident and later died at an Atlanta hospital. Everyone else in the vehicle suffered multiple injuries, but all are now recovering, according the Ann Cradduck, a family friend of the Jones family.

Jones graduated from Glen Marlow Elementary School.

Cradduck organized a GoFund Me page for the Jones family, and the Jones family made the following statement on the page:

It is with the heaviest of hearts we are announcing the passing of our shining light, our family's heart, Evadora Grace Jones. She fought hard but in the end she was unable to overcome the injuries she sustained in the automobile crash on July 4th.
Please continue to send up prayers and ask for strength and guidance on behalf of Evadora and Reed as they continue to heal from their injuries over the coming weeks.
Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and well wishes. We are truly blessed to have the friends and family we do and are humbled by the outpouring of support.

As of July 11, the page has raised over $67,000.

Cradduck said Evadora Grace was a dancer at Center Stage Studio in South Asheville.

"A lot of those people at the studio are pulling together now for the Jones family," Cradduck said.

Cradduck said she lives in the same neighborhood as the Jones family and that the neighborhood recently held a vigil.

"Our neighborhood has been amazing. Everyone has pink and purple bows on their houses. Glen Marlow also held a vigil at Mills River Park. It's just so sad," Cradduck said.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the Alvaro family to help with medical expenses.

The Jones family is currently making funeral arrangements.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County elementary school student dies in July 4th crash in Georgia