ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Quantaine Malone is grieving the death of his stepson Cameron McIlwain. The 8-year-old died in a freak accident on Wednesday on Interstate 20.
"He was always there to support his sister and help his mom out around the house, plus he was a good student," Malone said.
McIlwain and his sister were in the back seat of an SUV driven by their mother when an object from a semi truck going the opposite direction flew through the front window.
CBS Atlanta News spoke with the driver of that truck, David Washington, and asked him what happened.
"My transmission fell out of my truck," Washington said.
Washington said a piece of the transmission went over the median and hit the SUV. McIlwain's mother, 29-year-old Jameka Malone, was struck on the arm.
Doctors later had to amputate a portion of Malone's arm from the elbow down.
"She was either picking up the phone or getting ready to hang up the phone and she thought she saw something coming through the windshield. It happened so fast she doesn't even remember," said Quantaine Malone.
Jameka Malone's 19-month-old daughter, Kanary Malone, was also hit but suffered minor injuries.
"I didn't have any warning, I just heard it when it came off and two of my brake lines went out so I didn't have any brakes," Washington said.
Quantaine Malone told CBS Atlanta News that he is also a truck driver and doesn't understand how the transmission fell off Washington's truck.
"You are supposed to have inspections and safety checks where people look over stuff," Quantaine Malone said. "Right now I am just trying to be a support system for my wife."
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Cameron McIlwain, 8
Quantaine and Jameka Malone
Cameron McIlwain and Kanary Malone
