"Coming on the heels of the team's conference championship win yesterday, this news hits our baseball players especially hard. There simply are no words," the college President said.
Two LaGrange College baseball players died in a car accident. The accident happened only hours after their team won a conference championship.
LaGrange College President Dr. Susanna Baxter revealed in a news statement on Saturday evening that Stephen Bartolotta and Jacob Brown died in the unfortunate tragedy, per PEOPLE. She said, "Coming on the heels of the team's conference championship win yesterday, this news hits our baseball players especially hard. There simply are no words."
LaGrange College: Freshman enrollment ties mark: The freshmen class at LaGrange College ties the mark as the se.. http://bit.ly/1IrZlr
— The Ledger-Enquirer (@LedgerEnquirer) September 28, 2009
She further wrote in the statement, "We will walk through this together as a campus family with God as our strength. Please support one another as the caring community that I know we are." She also said that they "will have trained faculty and staff on hand to meet with those of you who would like that support either individually or in groups after the gathering at 1:30." Rico Dunn, another guy involved in the car accident, allegedly died later at a hospital, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
The 24-year-old was hit head-on in his 2008 GMC Sierra and died at the hospital, according to the Georgia State Patrol. The incident took place at 9:15 p.m. Three automobiles were involved, according to police, a silver 2015 Honda Accord, a gray 2019 Honda Accord, and a 2008 GMC Sierra.
LaGrange College confirmed Stephen Bartolotta and Jacob Brown died in a car crash hours after the team won a conference championship. Another man reportedly died at a hospital. https://t.co/bfiDEMn1MZ
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) May 16, 2022
The 2015 Honda Accord reportedly overtook the 2019 Honda Accord in a no-passing zone, colliding head-on with the 2008 GMC Sierra. The GMC Sierra then allegedly crashed into a median. Brown, 19, grew up in Duluth and attended Peachtree Ridge High School. Brown pitched in Saturday's USA South Tournament final triumph over N.C. Wesleyan. Bartolotta, 18, was originally from Palm City, Florida.
The LaGrange College family has lost two of its own, a pair of freshmen pitchers on the baseball team, hours after winning the conference championship. My heart goes out to this great group of men, and the families of these two players. Today is a hard day at my college. https://t.co/SsuYPhuHAN
— John Tures (@JohnTures2) May 15, 2022
LaGrange College communications director Dean Hartman told Fox 5, "To go from the high of winning the conference championship. This is their fifth conference championship in a row and then just a few hours later (lose) two teammates it’s a little hard to imagine what that feels like." He added, "We’re just trying to help our students work toward processing some really, really hard news…it was a chance to express emotions so that the kids can begin to get some of that out there."
On Sunday afternoon, the school's chaplain convened a meeting in the Dickson Assembly Room to assure kids that they are not alone. Counselors were accessible immediately following the event, and Hartman stated that they will be available this week as school authorities prepare for exams and graduation.
References:
https://people.com/sports/2-college-baseball-players-killed-in-car-crash-after-championship/?
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/lagrange-college-baseball-jacob-brown-stephen-bartolotta
Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Reza Estakhrian
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