Two University of the South coeds were killed and two were injured early Thursday morning in an accident involving a tractor-trailer. Katie Christianson, one of the students killed, was from Chattanooga and a 2008 graduate of Notre Dame High School.
The university released this statement:
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. 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.