Grandmother's decision may have saved kids' lives - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

A grandmother is being called a hero after making a split-second decision that may have saved the lives of her grandchildren.

Police say that on Friday, a car with three teenagers crossed the center line and ran into a car carrying Heather Hughes' mother, her two children and nephew.

"She went off into the grass on to the side of the road," said Hughes.

Ariah, 6, had to be flown to the hospital, while 3-year-old Cayden and his cousin were taken by ambulance.

"The hardest part was watching my daughter fly away on the helicopter and me not able to go with her," said Hughes.

The crash, which happened on Ivey Gulledge Road, ejected two of the teens, sending one of them to the hospital in critical condition.

Heather believes the fact her children are now OK is a miracle.  She says that rescue workers told her that her mother, Sandra Grere, may have saved their lives by turning the car in such a way that she took the brunt of the impact rather than the children.

"My mom was a hero, because if she hadn't turned the way she did, then the car would have hit and impacted the kids," said Hughes. "The way the car looks, there's damage on the top of the car, where my mom's door was. It looks like he flipped over the car, on top of her car."

Sandra Grere is scheduled to have back surgery on Tuesday. Her daughter says she broke her back, arm and ankle.

Georgia State Patrol is still investigating the crash.