WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsUpdate: Two University of South Students Killed in Crash

Update: Two University of South Students Killed in Crash

UPDATED 10:15 pm

Chattanooga (WRCB) - Eyewitness News has learned more about  19 year-old wreck victim, Katy Christianson. 

Christianson had just transferred to the University of the South from UTC, where she was a member of the rowing team.

"It is going to be difficult for some kids.  She was involved last spring and helped us out.  She rowed full time last fall," says Katy's former coach, Robert Espeseth.

Katy was also a member of the rowing team at Sewanee.  She and three other team mates were on their way to practice when they were involved in the collision. 

"She was so loveable.  A genuine human being.  It is a terrible thing that happened to her," said Claire Henley, former team mate and childhood friend.

A student-led candlelight vigil was held on the University of the South's campus late Thursday night. 

UPDATED 4PM THURSDAY

FRANKLIN COUNTY (WRCB) -- From the Tennessee Highway Patrol:

  The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2007 Hyundai with four students from the University of the South turned into path of a northbound 1995 Mack tractor trailer, killing two front seat occupants and injuring the rear seat passengers. 

 The rear seat occupants are in stable condition at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.   Driver: Killed Kathleen T. Beach - 18 yoa - Clarksville, TN Passenger: Killed - Kathryn S. Christianson - 19 yoa - Chattanooga, TN Passenger: Injured - Anna C. Summs - 18 yoa - Cookeville, TN Passenger: Injured - Arden G. Jones - 18 yoa - Greenwood, TN   TT Driver: injured John H. Tucker 52 yoa - Elora TN   Vehicles: 1995 Mack Tractor Trailer - registered out of TN 2007 Hyundai - registered out of TN 

UPDATED NOON THURSDAY

FRANKLIN COUNTY (WRCB) -- Here is the statement about the fatal crash released on the University of the South website:

The University is deeply saddened to report that two Sewanee students died early this morning and two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 41A at the intersection of Airport Road. All four students were members of the Sewanee crew team.

Kathryn (Katie) Christianson, C'12, of Chattanooga, and Kathleen Beach, C'13, of Clarksville, TN, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sewanee Police Chief Robert White.

Arden Jones, C'13, of Greenwood, VA, and Anna Summs, C'13, of Cookeville, TN, were transported to Emerald-Hodgson Hospital and airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Their condition was not available at the time of this report.

The immediate families of the students have been notified.

All Saints' Chapel will be open all day and someone from the University will be present there. Prayers at noon will be led by University Chaplain Rev. Tom Macfie. Announcements about future services will come from the Chaplain's Office or another office of the University.

The Chaplain's Office, Counseling Services, and Student Life staff are available as resources for Sewanee students.

According to Chief White, the students were traveling to crew practice at Lake Dimmick around 6 a.m. CDT when their vehicle crossed 41A from Missouri Avenue and was struck by an 18-wheeler traveling northbound toward Monteagle.

The driver of truck was not injured in the accident, Chief White said.

Sewanee Police and Fire Department, along with the Grundy EMS and Sewanee EMS responded to the call. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting the accident investigation.

The sympathy and prayers of the Sewanee community are with the families and friends of all four young women.

11:00AM THURSDAY

FRANKLIN COUNTY (WRCB) -- Two students from the Unversity of the South died in an early Thursday morning crash.

According to Mike Browning with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the accident happened at 7am at the intersection of U.S. Highway 41-A and Airport Road. Four students, all of them women between the ages of 18 and 19, were enroute to rowing practice. THP investigators say their car pulled out in front of a tractor trailer. Two of the women were killed; one was from Chattanooga while the other was from Clarksville, Tennessee.

The two others in the car were transported to Erlanger Medical Center. They are from Tennessee and Virginia.

The driver of the tractor trailer was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

We'll have more information on this story as it becomes available.