4 University of Georgia students killed in crash

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. — Just days before the end of the school year, tragedy has struck the University of Georgia community. A two-vehicle crash Wednesday night killed four students and left a fifth in critical condition.

Investigators believe the five women were traveling northbound on Ga. 15, toward the UGA campus, when the white Toyota Camry crossed the center line, according to the Georgia State Patrol. A southbound Chevrolet Cobalt struck the side of the Toyota on the two-lane road in Watkinsville shortly before 9 p.m. %

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Kayla Canedo, 19, of Alpharetta; Brittany Feldman, 20, of Alpharetta; Christina Semeria, 19, of Milton; and Halle Scott, 19, of Dunwoody, all died. The driver of the Camry, Agnes Kim, 21, of Snellville, was in critical condition late Thursday morning. The driver of the Cobalt, Abby Short, 27, of Demorest, was also injured and in the hospital.

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The wreck shut down the highway for several hours Wednesday night. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said one car involved, the Toyota, had a Gwinnett County tag. But word spread quickly to the Athens campus that the wreck involved five of the more than 35,000 students at UGA.

Three students died at the scene of the crash and two others were taken to Athens Regional Medical Center. A fourth student died at the hospital, where a fifth remained late Thursday morning.

Oconee Sheriff Scott Berry posted on Facebook that both he and UGA police Chief Jimmy Williamson spent the night at the hospital, along with dozens of students, including Young Life members, a Christian ministry.

“We grieve with them and we pray for comfort and solace during these unimaginable circumstances,” Berry posted. “The surviving occupant of the car is in critical condition and we pray for her healing as I am sure you do.”

UGA president Jere Morehead, who planned to hold a news conference at 11 a.m., said he was deeply saddened by the students’ deaths.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our students who were victims,” Morehead said. “We ask that you keep these students and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

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