Alleged distracted driver hits family; 2 in hospital

Two women were in the hospital Thursday after a distracted driver struck a family of six in Clayton County, police said.

The accident happened Wednesday night on Valley Hill Road near Apache Lane in Riverdale, Clayton police spokeswoman Sgt. Ashanti Marbury said.

Two adult women, ages 36 and 21, and four children, one of whom was in a stroller, were struck by a car about 8:16 p.m. The children ranged in age from 2 to 6.

Darius Demond Mack, the 28-year-old driver, was on his cellphone and distracted, Marbury said. He veered off the road and onto the shoulder where the family was walking.

The 36-year-old woman was in critical condition and the 21-year-old was in serious condition Thursday. All four children were released from the hospital with bumps and bruises.

Mack was arrested and charged with two counts of serious injury by motor vehicle, reckless driving, distracted driving and failure to maintain lane.