Three Georgia teens — including a high school volleyball star — were killed, and another was left fighting for her life in a horrific car crash while they vacationed in Florida during spring break.
The deadly wreck happened Monday on Highway 65 in Franklin County as the teens were heading to St. George Island when their Jeep veered off the road and struck the treeline, the Florida Department of Highway Safety said, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
An 18-year-old male, a 17-year-old female, and a 16-year-old female from Cumming, Ga. died in the wreck.
The fourth victim — a 17-year-old girl — survived the crash and was rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in critical condition, officials said.
One of the victims was identified as Jaylyn Fehr, according to a GoFundMe set up to help her parents with travel and funeral expenses.
Fehr, a junior at Horizon Christian Academy in Cumming, Ga., was described as a star volleyball player and beloved member of her church community.
“She also played for her club, A5 Gwinnett, and was known for her dedication and sportsmanship both on and off the court,” the fundraiser page said.
“Jaylyn was actively involved in her church, Local Forsyth, and attended youth group at Northpoint Community Church.”
The page noted that Fehr’s “faith and kindness touched everyone who knew her, and her loss is deeply felt by her family, friends, and the entire community.”
She is survived by her mother and father, Lynne and Jason.
Horizon Christian Academy confirmed in a Facebook post Tuesday that all the teens involved in the deadly crash were students at the school, adding that it opened its chapel Monday night to offer students and families a place to gather, grieve and pray.
“It is with profound sorrow that we share that three of our amazing, kind, smart, and loved students were killed in a tragic car accident in Florida,” the school announced.
“We pray that God’s presence would be deeply felt by these grieving families, and that His presence would bring comfort, peace, and hope even in the midst of unimaginable loss.”
“In the days and weeks ahead, we will stand together, grieve together, and support these families in every way we can,” the school added.
Investigators are still trying to determine how fast the Jeep was driving or what caused it to swerve off the road, Franklin County Sheriff AJ “Tony” Smith said in a statement.
Smith said Good Samaritans who were driving by the crash pulled over and rushed to help the victims before the vehicle erupted in flames.
“They were there maybe seconds after the crash and as a result, they stopped to render aid, and they were able to pull one of the teenage females out of the front passenger seat,” he said.
The sheriff said the community is “heartbroken” over the tragedy and will keep “the families of all these kids” in their prayers while continuing to pray for the surviving teen’s recovery.
