The four Georgia teenagers were students at Horizon Christian Academy
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Three high school students from Georgia died in a fatal spring break crash in Florida
- Another was seriously injured and later taken to a hospital in Tallahassee, Fla.
- The investigation into what caused the deadly collision remains ongoing
Three Georgia teens were killed and another injured in a Florida collision during spring break.
Authorities have not confirmed the identities of the victims, but the individuals killed on the morning of Monday, April 6 in Franklin County, Fla., were an 18-year-old male from Alpharetta, a 17-year-old female from Cumming and a 16-year-old female from Cumming, WSB-TV 2, Fox 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First reported.
A fourth individual, a 17-year-old female from Alpharetta, was seriously injured in the crash and hospitalized, police said.
PEOPLE reached out to the Florida Highway Patrol, but did not immediately receive a response.
The incident happened on Highway 65 when the car they were traveling in went off the road and collided with a tree before bursting into flames. It is unknown if another vehicle was involved, CBS Atlanta reported.
The teenager who survived the incident was rushed to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with critical injuries. As of Tuesday, April 7, there is no word on her current condition, per WSB-TV 2.
The victims were high school students at Horizon Christian Academy in Cumming, Ga., according to a statement issued by the school.
"We are heartbroken as a school community and we ask for prayers for these families and their loved ones, as well as for the student who remains in the hospital,” the school said in a statement. “This is an incredibly difficult time for all who are affected.”
"HCA is leaning on its faith as we process the tragedy. We are reminded in Psalm 34:18 that ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ Our prayer is that God’s presence will be deeply felt by these families and that He will bring comfort, peace, and hope in the midst of unimaginable loss,” the statement continued.
In a video statement shared to social media after the incident, Franklin County Sheriff AJ Tony Smith said Highway 65 would be closed for approximately six to seven hours due to the “really terrible traffic crash.”
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"We don't know how fast they were going or what happened, but we do know that they obviously something happened to cause this vehicle to go into the other lane and hit a tree," the sheriff said in a virtual press conference partially aired by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Smith credited good Samaritans for stopping to help the teens after spotting their car in flames after the incident.
"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," the sheriff said. "We're all heartbroken about it, and we just hope that people will keep the families of all these kids in their prayers and continue to pray for the young lady that's recovering."
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