Loganville Student Injured In Deadly Wreck Near Savannah

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A Georgia Southern University student from Loganville was one of two who survived a fatal crash along Interstate 16 near Savannah.

Megan Richards, along with Brittney McDaniel of Reidsville, are currently being treated for their injuries in an early Wednesday morning accident that killed five of their classmates, University President Brooks Keel said.

In a message to students, Keel said the victims, all juniors, of the accident were: Catherine (McKay) Pittman of Alpharetta; Emily Clark of Powder Springs; Abbie Deloach of Savannah; Morgan Bass of Leesburg; and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen.

The accident occurred along the interstate during the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 22.

According to the Statesboro Herald, the accident was a seven-vehicle wreck near mile marker 140, which is about one mile west of the Highway 280 Exit, Bryan County Sheriff Clyde Smith told the newspaper.

The accident happened around 5:45 a.m. when a tractor-trailer slammed into traffic that was stopped while emergency crews were working a prior crash involving another tractor-trailer and an RV. That original accident took place around 2 a.m., Smith told the newspaper.

In all, three tractor-trailers, two cars and two pickup trucks were involved in the second wreck.

• Read more of the Statesboro Herald’s report here.

“Every one of our students contributes in no small measure, to the Eagle Nation,” the president continued. “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.”

Keel noted the university’s flag will fly at half-staff Thursday in the students’ memory.

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Photo credit: Fox 5 Atlanta