Toddler Dies After 'Smiling' Driver's Alleged Attack
People Say Man Intentionally Rammed Five People

POSTED: 6:58 am EDT May 24, 2006
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EDT May 24, 2006

COVINGTON, Ga. -- A 2-year-old girl has died after being struck by a driver accused of intentionally hitting a family in a McDonald's parking lot, WSB-TV in Atlanta reported.

A judge denied bail while waiting for the mental health exam on Lanny Barnes, 36. He faces five felony counts of aggravated assault, among other charges.

There's no word yet on new charges in light of the girl's death, which was announced at 4 p.m. EDT.

Two sisters and their three small children -- ages 2, 3 and 4 -- were walking out of the restaurant in Covington, about 30 miles from Atlanta, when a green Honda Accord came barreling toward them over a curb.

Police said the car struck the five, hit the restaurant and then backed up and hit them again Tuesday in an apparent intentional random attack. All five were hospitalized -- with a 2-year-old boy critically injured.

McDonald's worker Ryan Boldman-Snyder, who said he was outside on a break when the attack happened, said the driver was "smiling the whole time."

"People were pulling kids out from underneath the car," he said.

"He started ramming the side of the building and he had a child underneath it," said another witness, Regina Franklin said. "He was dragging it. He'd back up and he was laughing."

Police Chief Stacey Cotton said Barnes attempted to leave the scene but was arrested near the restaurant.

"The police surrounded him and had guns pointed at him and he would not get out of that car. They had to drag him out of that car," Franklin said.

He said there is no apparent connection between the victims and Barnes.

About 50 witnesses have offered conflicting statements about what happened, police said.

Barnes' mother said he has suffered from depression.

"He's been suffering with depression for years," said Mary Barnes, her voice shaking after being told by a reporter what happened. "Lord have mercy."