Henry County

Family, friends remember teen they say was killed in wreck

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Friends gathered Saturday in Henry County to remember a high school senior who was killed in deadly pileup.

Dozens of people gathered at Locust Grove High School's football field Saturday evening, remembering Summer Lee. The high school senior played softball. Lee's good friend Devon Drew describes her as beyond special.

“I hadn't known what to do but cry and pray. She was a blessing to all of us and a blessing to this school and a blessing to every living thing that ever met her," Drew said.

Friends said Lee was killed in a fiery nine-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 northbound in Henry County, near state roads 20 and 81. A man walking through the parking lot of a nearby hotel around 11 a.m. witnessed the crash and was horrified. He did not want to be identified.

"As soon as I (saw) it, I’m like ‘God. Oh, man. Wow. Are you serious? There’s somebody going to die in this vehicle,’" he said.

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Northbound Interstate 75 was shut down for hours. Less than three hours after the road reopened, the community joined hands to pray and promised to always remember Lee.

Lee's grandfather said Lee had just turned 18 less than a week before her death.

"Everyone loves her and everyone is going to miss her," a friend said.

Police said there were four other people injured in the wreck. They expect to release more information about the deadly crash on Monday.