Crime & Safety
Vigil, Fund Drive Set for Teen Sweethearts Killed in Crash
Janeal Priester, 18, and Nicholas Wright, 17, died in a two-car accident Wednesday near Paulding County High School.
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A vigil has been scheduled for Saturday to honor the Paulding County teenagers who were killed in an auto accident Wednesday near their high school.
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According to information shared on Facebook by South Paulding Spartans Football, the vigil for Janeal Priester, 18, and Nicholas Wright, 17, is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in the Paulding County High School parking lot.
From the South Paulding Facebook post:
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Please bring one balloon (Orange) & one candle
The outpouring of support has been awesome!!
Please continue to share the link to help offset funeral costs -
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe donation page has been set up to help pay for funeral costs. “Funeral Expenses for Nick & Janeal” had raised nearly $10,000 (of the $20,000 goal) as of Friday afternoon.
The high school sweethearts died tragically in a two-car collision around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Ga. Highway 61 near Paulding County High, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Priester had just graduated from PCHS; Wright was a rising senior and a football player.
Nick was a starting linebacker and defensive captain, Janeal was team manager, according to the GoFundMe page.
Nick & Janeal were taken from this world at a far too young age. They will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. -- From “Funeral Expenses for Nick & Janeal” GoFundMe page
The state patrol said Priester was turning left onto Highway 61 from Old Villa Rica Road when she pulled her 2003 Oldsmobile Alero in front of a southbound 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Sarah Dowdy, 22, of Hiram. The Camry struck the Oldsmobile on the driver’s side. No charges are expected in the case.
Dowdy was injured in the accident, as was Janeal’s 16-year-old brother, Joshua Priester, who was a passenger in the backseat. He was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital. The conditions of the injured were not known.
To make a donation, click on the link below.
Photo: GoFundMe
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