ATLANTA — Families are heartbroken over the loss of three people connected to an Alabama college, including two Georgia natives, who died in a crash Friday night.
Stillman College said it is mourning for Sieas Elliott, who was a current student, and alumni Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
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Clayton County police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the crash happened on Interstate 75 and Old Dixie Road in Forest Park.
Elliott’s mother, Tikia West, told Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes that she got the phone call from an official around 4 a.m. Saturday.
“He was like there was a bad accident, we had three fatalities,” West said. “And my daughter said, ‘Wait a minute, were there any survivors?’ And at that point it still hadn’t registered. He said nobody survived, and your worst nightmare comes true.”
She spoke about her son’s faith and his love of baseball. He played for Stillman and planned to return in the fall to finish his degree and work as an assistant coach.
“We don’t know the time or place or how we’re gonna leave this world – we know we gotta leave," his mother said. “But to know he had impacted so many people so fast over his time, 24 years ain’t a long time, but the legacy he left behind will live forever.”
“This is a terrible tragedy for everyone in our Stillman family. The spirit of each of these proud Stillmanites will live on with all who were greeted by their warm smiles and welcoming personality. The entire Stillman College community mourns this heartbreaking loss,” Stillman College President Dr. Yolanda W. Page said.
“We extend our sincere condolences to their families, friends, classmates, and teammates during this incredibly difficult time,” she added.
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Elliott and Lawrence attended Jonesboro High School and MLK Jr. High School. Lawrence also played baseball at Stillman College.
Lawrence graduated in 2023 and returned to Georgia to coach baseball. He and Gardner have a young son together, according to the school.
Gardner, who was from Montgomery, Ala., graduated in 2022 with a degree in criminal justice. She worked as a juvenile officer at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center, according to the school.
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