UPDATE | Memorial fund set up for Georgia Southern University crash victims

Friday, April 24th, 2015

ELLABELLE, Ga. (WRDW)-- Family and friends of Caitlyn Bagget, the Millen teen who died in a crash on Interstate 16 Wednesday, will gather for her funeral service this weekend.

A memorial fund has been set up to honor the five nursing students who died in a crash in Interstate 16 Wednesday.

According to Georgia Southern's website, the School of Nursing Students' Memorial Fund has been established to honor the five nursing students,

Caitlyn Baggett, of Millen, was killed in the crash. Emily Clark from Powder Springs, Morgan Bass, of Leesburg, Abbie Deloach, of Savannah, and Catherine (McKay) Pittman of Alpharetta were also killed in the accident.

To donate to the fund click

here.

Gifts can also be mailed to:

Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 8053-02 Statesboro, GA 30460

Georgia Southern said to include the name of the student you're honoring on the memo line of your check. If you want your donation to be evenly distributed, leave the line blank.

Georgia State Patrol reconstructed the deadly wreck in Bryan County Friday morning. The reconstruction was where the accident happened on I-16 near mile marker 141.

The reconstruction included forensic mapping of the collision site from 9:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. Friday.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia authorities say it could take months before they decide whether to file criminal charges in an interstate crash that killed five nursing students.

The chain-reaction collision on Interstate 16 early Wednesday involved six different vehicles. The Georgia State Patrol says it began with a tractor-trailer that failed to slow down and crashed into stop-and-go traffic that had backed up because of an earlier, unrelated wreck.

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Nease, commander of the State Patrol Post investigating the crash, said Thursday he expects it will take several months for his team assigned to reconstruct the deadly crash to complete its report. Tom Durden, the district attorney for Bryan County where the collision occurred, said crash investigations can be complicated because it's not always obvious whether crimes were committed.

News 12 This Morning, Thursday, April 23, 2015

ELLABELLE, Ga. (WRDW)- Georgia Southern is mourning the loss of 5 nursing students killed in a crash early Wednesday morning.

Georgia Southern President Dr. Brooks Keel released a statement saying quote, "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 in-comprehensible."

Georgia State Patrol says a tractor-trailer did not slow down, and smashed into backed up traffic on Interstate 16. They say the tractor trailer slammed into an SUV, car, and tanker truck. The students were in the car, and it burst into flames after being crushed.

One of those 5 young women killed in the crash is Caitlyn Baggett, a junior from Millen

The students were all heading to a Savannah hospital for their final clinical rotation of the school year.

On Wednesday, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority had students over to eat a meal and remember their fellow eagles.

"No matter what year you are in the program we all travel that same road and we have multiple mornings so it's a reality that kind of hit home that it could be us. Even if you didn't know these girls you're still impacted by their loss," said a Georgia Southern nursing school student.

The school says they're evaluating how to move forward with the remaining classes for the College of Nursing for the rest of the year.

A memorial will be held on Georgia Southern's campus on Thursday at 7 o'clock on Sweetheart Circle.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

ELLABELLE, Ga. (AP) -- Five women killed early Wednesday in a fiery interstate crash in southeast Georgia were all nursing students headed to a Savannah hospital.

St. Joseph's Candler Health System said all five were Georgia residents commuting to St. Joseph's Hospital for their final clinical rotation of the school year.

The Georgia State Patrol says a tractor-trailer failed to slow down and smashed into stop-and-go traffic on Interstate 16 that had backed up because of an earlier wreck. Three people also were injured in the crash about 20 miles west of Savannah.

Georgia Southern University identified the dead as Emily Clark of Powder Springs, Morgan Bass of Leesburg, Abbie Deloach of Savannah, Catherine Pittman of Alpharetta and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

ELLABELLE, Ga. (WRDW) -- A Millen resident is among the 5 Georgia Southern killed in a crash on Interstate 16 west of Savannah Wednesday.

Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel released the list of students today after notifying the families.

In his release he said, Caitlyn Baggett, a Junior from Millen, was killed in the crash. Emily Clark from Powder Springs, Morgan Bass, of Leesburg, Abbie Deloach, from Savannah, and Catherine (McKay) Pittman of Alpharetta were also killed in the accident.

Both Brittney McDaniel of Reidsville and Megan Richards, of Loganville, are being treated for their injuries, according to Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel.

In the president's message to the campus, he said:

"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."

President Brooks Keel said the university will fly their flag at half-staff on Thursday. Members of the University can schedule an appointment with the Counseling Center by calling 912-478-5541.

Memorial arrangements are pending.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

ELLABELLE, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities in Georgia say five people are dead after a tractor-trailer failed to slow down and smashed into stop-and-go traffic on Interstate 16 west of Savannah.

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Nease of the Georgia State Patrol said the deadly collision happened early Wednesday as an unrelated crash about a mile up the highway was forcing traffic to slow down. He says a tractor-trailer slammed into an SUV and a car before colliding with the back of a tanker truck.

Nease says the passenger car burst into flames after it was crushed.

Authorities say seven total vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash 20 miles west of Savannah. Three people were injured.

Nease said the driver of the tractor-trailer has not been cited as investigators continue to piece together what happened.