The five Georgia Southern University nurses killed last April in a horrific Interstate 16 crash will be memorialized Monday at the state Capitol.

Some of the state’s top leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, will attend the 11:30 a.m. ceremony, which will be held on the steps of the Capitol’s south wing. The ceremony will include a candle lighting and unveiling of memorial gifts.

The crash happened as the students were on their way to Savannah for their final clinical rotation of the school year. A tractor-trailer crashed into the two SUV's carrying the women, killing Emily Clark, 20, Powder Springs; Morgan Bass, 20, of Leesburg; Abbie Deloach, 21, of Savannah; Catherine "McKay" Pittman, 21, of Alpharetta; and Caitlyn Baggett, 21, of Millen.

Two other students, Megan Richards of Loganville and Brittney McDaniel of Reidsville, were both seriously injured in the crash.

About the Author

Keep Reading

State Rep. Sharon Henderson,  D-Covington, (shown speaking with cancer advocates during the 2025 Georgia Cancer Action Day, Feb. 4, 2025) was arrested Monday on charges of defrauding the federal government and making false statements. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez