Five people were killed after a pile-up on Interstate 16 Wednesday morning. The crash involved a semi-truck and a motor home.
A tractor-trailer wrecked into an SUV and a car before colliding with the back of a tanker truck. The SUV immediately caught fire, witnesses said.
From WSFA: “According to St. Joseph’s-Candler, the five victims who died in the crash were Georgia Southern Nursing students. It was their last day of clincial rotations in their first year of nursing school.
The victims were Emily Clark, of Powder Springs, GA, Morgan Bass, of Leesburg, GA, Abbie Deloach, of Savannah, GA, Catherine (McKay) Pittman, of Alpharetta, GA and Caitlyn Baggett, of Millen, GA. All were juniors in the program.”
GSU President Brooks Keel released the following statement;
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragedy that took place this morning. Five Georgia Southern students died and two were injured in an early morning crash on I-16 eastbound near Savannah.We are unable to release the names of these students at this time because we are awaiting notification to families.
Every one of our students contributes in no small measure, to the Eagle Nation. The loss of any student, especially in a tragic way, is particularly painful. Losing five students is almost incomprehensible.
Our hearts go out to the families, friends and classmates of these students.
The University flag will fly at half-staff Thursday in their memory. Memorial arrangements are pending.
Let me urge those particularly touched by this tragedy to avail themselves of counseling services, and I urge all members of the University community to support each other during this time.
Members of the University community may obtain support services from the Counseling Center at 912-478-5541.”
No one was injured in the earlier crash between the semi and the motor home, but both overturned, causing a mess and closing the eastbound lanes for hours. That crash was cleared around 11 a.m.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Photo: WSAV
Facebook Comments
