A college freshman just days away from completing his first semester died Sunday from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle wreck.
Steven Gregory Excell was one of five Reinhardt University students traveling in a 2007 GMC Sierra that struck an embankment in northern Cherokee County early Sunday, the university president said. The students were transported to the hospital, where Excell died several hours later.
Excell, a cross country runner and basketball player for the university, died at Atlanta Medical Center around 5 a.m. Sunday, Reinhardt President J. Thomas Isherwood said in e-mail to students Sunday afternoon. Excell, of Duluth, would have finished his first semester this week following final exams at the university, located in Waleska.
Three of the other students involved in the wreck were released from the hospital later Sunday morning, and one student with several broken bones remained hospitalized Sunday afternoon, Isherwood said.
News of Excell's death spread quickly among students and staff at the university, which has an enrollment of about 1,120 according to its website. Excell's older brother, James, also attends Reinhardt.
"I still can't believe it," freshman Ryan Osborn told the AJC Sunday evening. "He was one of the nicest guys I've ever known."
Osborn had two classes with Excell and the two were teammates on the cross country team. Excell, he said, wasn't the fastest runner on the team, but was extremely dedicated and athletic enough to compete in two sports.
"He had talked about working to get better," Osborn said.
Investigators believe the driver lost control of the pickup truck, causing the wreck which happened about 12:44 a.m. Sunday, the state patrol said. The driver may be charged pending the outcome of the investigation, the state patrol said.
Osborn said the road where the wreck occurred is known as "Roller Coaster Road" because of its curves and hills.
- Angel K. Brooks contributed to this report.
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