An 18-year-old driver and her 17-year-old boyfriend passenger were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Paulding County, the Georgia State Patrol said Thursday. Family members told Channel 2 Action News the two were high school sweethearts who had been dating for two years.
“My baby is gone,” said Kira Priester, who identified herself as 18-year-old Janeal Priester’s mother.
Priester was distraught as she visited the crash scene along Ga. 61 Thursday, where visitors stopped and left balloons and flowers. She said her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, 17-year-old Nickuhlous Wright, were coming to visit her in the hospital when they were killed.
“My baby is gone,” said Kira Priester, who identified herself as 18-year-old Janeal Priester’s mother.
Priester was distraught as she visited the crash scene along Ga. 61 Thursday, where visitors stopped and left balloons and flowers. She said her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, 17-year-old Nickuhlous Wright, were coming to visit her in the hospital when they were killed.
Priester said her 16-year-old son, Joshua Priester, was also in the car, in the back seat. He was taken to the hospital and had surgery for his injuries Thursday. She did not know his condition.
“I need to know so I can be at peace with this,” she said.
Troopers said Thursday no charges will be filed. They said they believe around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Janeal Priester was driving a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero and failed to yield while turning left onto Ga. 61 from Old Villa Rica Road. The intersection is close to Paulding County High School, where Piester had just graduated and Wright was a rising senior.
“I need to know so I can be at peace with this,” she said.
Troopers said Thursday no charges will be filed. They said they believe around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Janeal Priester was driving a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero and failed to yield while turning left onto Ga. 61 from Old Villa Rica Road. The intersection is close to Paulding County High School, where Piester had just graduated and Wright was a rising senior.
The Oldsmobile was struck on the driver’s side by a 2007 Toyota Camry traveling south on Ga. 61. The impact pushed the car across the road, where it landed upside down in a ditch.
The driver of that second car was also hospitalized. She is identified as 22-year-old Sarah Dowdy of Hiram. WellStar Kennestone Hospital officials would not release details of her condition.
“He was looking forward to going to college and football and being a student-athlete,” said William Wright, who identified himself as Nicholas’ father.
Wright said his son played football for Paulding County High.
“It was just God’s time to pick those two flowers,” he said. “You just hope it was an instant thing and they didn’t suffer any.”
“A lot of them came to practice not even knowing, so you can imagine the shock,” said Rich Erdman, a volunteer with Paulding County School District who ministered to grieving students and others as they coped with the news Thursday. “Think about what happened out here and let that be a thought and a lesson for you when you are out on the road.”
The driver of that second car was also hospitalized. She is identified as 22-year-old Sarah Dowdy of Hiram. WellStar Kennestone Hospital officials would not release details of her condition.
“He was looking forward to going to college and football and being a student-athlete,” said William Wright, who identified himself as Nicholas’ father.
Wright said his son played football for Paulding County High.
“It was just God’s time to pick those two flowers,” he said. “You just hope it was an instant thing and they didn’t suffer any.”
“A lot of them came to practice not even knowing, so you can imagine the shock,” said Rich Erdman, a volunteer with Paulding County School District who ministered to grieving students and others as they coped with the news Thursday. “Think about what happened out here and let that be a thought and a lesson for you when you are out on the road.”
WSBTV
