ELLIJAY, Ga. - It is hard to imagine the loss three boys have have come to know at such young ages. CJ, 8, Bryson, 7, and Luke, 5, lost their parents, Ashley and Joshua Hatchett, after they were killed in a car accident Wednesday morning in Ellijay.
"They're sad, you can see the sadness in their eyes," said Tammy Sexton, who is the aunt of the boys' mother Ashley.
Ashley and her husband Joshua, known as Joe to his family, both died when their car hit a tree along Highway 832.
"She was the life of anything, any family function we had going on, she was always laughing and cutting up," said Sexton. "And of course, the boys, their personalities carry into that too."
Authorities are not sure what caused the Hatchett's car to run off the road. However, their family's focus isn't on what happened during the crash, but instead on the three lives left for them to care for.
"You've got three boys without parents that we've got to take care of," said Sexton. "They have a future."
In just a matter of hours, the GoFundMe.com page Sexton started has already raised more than $4,000 - money the family will use to cover funeral costs and begin a fund to help the boys.
"With all the stuff that's going on in this world, it's heartwarming to know people really are out there trying to help," said Sexton.
If you'd like more information on how to help the boys, visit their GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/dse6sc5v