Leesburg woman among 5 Georgia Southern students killed in crash

STATESBORO — A nursing student from Lee County was one of five Georgia Southern University students killed in a car crash Wednesday morning on Interstate Highway 16, university officials confirmed.

Morgan Bass, a junior from Leesburg, was killed in the wreck near Savannah in which four other students were killed and two were injured.

Emily Clark of Powder Springs, Abbie Deloach of Savannah, Catherine (McKay) Pittman of Alpharetta and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen, all juniors, also were killed.

Two other students, Brittney McDaniel of Reidsville and Megan Richards of Loganville were being treated for injures Wednesday, university officials said.

Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel issued a statement Wednesday: “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragedy that took place this morning. Several Georgia Southern students died and two were injured in an early morning crash on I-16 eastbound near Savannah.

“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. The University flag will fly at half-staff Thursday in their memory. Memorial arrangements are pending. Let me urge those particularly touched by this tragedy to avail themselves of counseling services, and I urge all members of the University community to support each other during this time.”