This week marks 10 years since 5 Georgia Southern nursing students were killed in I-16 crash
This week marks 10 years since five Georgia Southern University nursing students were killed in a fiery crash.
The deadly crash happened on April 22, 2015 along Interstate 16 outside of Savannah.
A group of seven young women were headed to their final clinical training when a tractor-trailer driver crashed into the back of their two cars.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Five of the nursing students died: Emily Clark, a junior from Powder Springs, Morgan Bass, a junior from Leesburg, Abbie Deloach, a junior from Savannah, McKay Pittman, a junior from Alpharetta, and Caitlyn Baggett, a junior from Millen.
The other two victims survived.
In 2016, the truck driver and trucking company involved in the crash were indicted on vehicular homicide charges.
The driver, John Wayne Johnson, pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Total Transportation of Mississippi, his employer, agreed to pay $78 million to settle civil lawsuits after the crash.
Georgia Southern University released the following statement on Tuesday.
'As we mark the tenth anniversary of the accident that claimed the lives of five Georgia Southern University nursing students — Caitlyn Baggett, Morgan Bass, Emily Clark, Abbie DeLoach and Catherine 'McKay' Pittman — we pause to reflect on the lasting impact they made on Eagle Nation. Over the past decade, their lives have inspired meaningful change, including efforts to improve highway safety and support nursing education through scholarships and memorials in their name. These young women were dedicated to serving others and we continue to honor their lives not just in memory, but in the way we live, learn and lead."
PREVIOUS STORIES:
April 22, 2015: 5 Georgia Southern students killed, 2 injured in crash
April 27, 2015: Troopers interview truck driver in deadly crash with GSU students
April 21, 2016: Settlement reached in wrongful deaths of Georgia Southern nursing students
July 14, 2016: Truck driver sentenced for crash that killed 5 nursing students
January 18, 2017: Truck driver who caused crash that killed nursing students weeps in court
January 19, 2017: Survivor of crash that killed nursing students gives emotional testimony
January 20, 2017: Jury awards $15M to student hurt in wreck
November 11, 2023: Family of Ga. nursing student among 5 killed in crash opens tutoring boutique in her honor
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man hides from police in retention pond after he ‘went to get a soda'
A man was arrested by police in a retention pond on Friday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 430p.m., officers were checking on a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the WestSpring Inn in Westlake, CBS-affiliate WOIO reported. They saw a man driving around and stopped to talk with him. He told officers he was staying at the hotel. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies: Wood thrown at officers in high-speed chase; ends in wrong-way crash on I-75 Injuries reported after car slams into Miami County home Child, adult dead after being pulled from SUV that went into pond He stepped away from the officers, saying that he was going to 'get a soda' from the front desk area. Officers learned the man had a felony warrant. A person at the hotel told officers that the man had run across the roadway into a nearby wooded area. The man, who was found partially submerged in the retention pond with his hands under the water, was taken into custody. The man was charged with failure to comply and resisting arrest. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Porn shown in high school class in Henry County
Parents were shocked to discover pornography was shown during an online class for high school students. Police have launched an investigation. 'This is serious. Serious. And we need to get to the bottom of it,' parent Yolanda Pressley told Channel 2's Tom Jones. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Parents were stunned to hear Union Grove High students in a summer school online class received a lesson inappropriate for their young eyes. 'It's not something that should be in schools. More and more stuff happens like this everyday,' parent Derek Lofton said. The Henry County School System sent parents a message saying it is working with police to identify the individual who shared an inappropriate video in an online class. A spokesperson stated that technical information has been provided to the police to assist in the investigation, and the responsible person will be handled accordingly. 'Well they should take it as a serious matter, because it is,' Lofton said. Lofton said one of his daughters, who attends Union Grove High, informed him and his wife that pornography was shown. He hopes it wasn't a child who shared it as a prank. 'If it was a child we definitely have to raise them better than that. I don't know what to say. That's just a shame,' he said. Another parent said that pornography was displayed during his son's virtual math class at Union Grove High. Pressley, a longtime PTA volunteer, said the inappropriate video can be traumatizing to students. She said the school system needs to get to the bottom of how this happened. 'If someone got into the system we need a solution. How can we prevent that,' she said. The school system has reminded the school of best practices to prevent unknown or unauthorized users from entering virtual meetings. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man charged in deputy's killing eligible for death penalty
The man accused of killing Deputy Daniel Sherrer could face the death penalty, according to our news partner WBNS 10TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED>> Deputy shot, killed while responding to domestic call in Ohio Prosecutor Andrew Wick announced that 53-year-old Brian Michael Wilson was indicted on 14 counts by a grand jury. Two counts of aggravated murder have specifications that make Wilson eligible for the death penalty, according to WBNS. TRENDING STORIES: Heroic local pharmacist saves 2 lives in one shift 'Grateful that I'm here;' woman recounts chaotic wrong-way chase on I-75 that ended in crash Local officer resigns after OVI arrest Authorities believe Wilson shot and killed Sherrer on May 26. Sherrer was responding to a reported domestic situation when he was shot, WBNS says. Wick has been indicted on 14 counts including two counts of aggravated murder, one count of felony murder, one count felonious assault on a peace officer, one count of felonious assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, one count of attempted murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder, one count of felonious assault, one count of domestic violence, one count of unlawful discharge of a firearm into a habitation, one count of unlawful discharge of a firearm on a public roadway, two counts of possession of criminal tools and one count of discharge of firearm while intoxicated, according to WBNS. Wilson's bond was set at $5 million. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
