Georgia Southern Garden Honors Nursing Students Involved In Fatal Crash

By KRISTAL DIXON (Patch Staff)

Georgia Southern University on Monday held a dedication ceremony for the School of Nursing Memorial Garden that honors the seven women involved in the tragic accident on Interstate 16 in Bryan County.

The University School of Nursing worked with the Facilities Services Department to create a special area of campus in memory of Morgan Bass, Caitlyn Baggett, Emily Clark, Abbie DeLoach and Catherine “McKay” Pittman, who lost their lives in the April accident.

The memorial also honors survivors Brittney McDaniel and Megan Richards. Richards is a Loganville native.

University students, faculty and staff and members of the families and community gathered at the garden to remember each of the students while representatives from the University, the School of Nursing and the University’s Student Nurses Association officially dedicated the site.

• RELATED: Loganville Student Injured in Fatal I-16 Wreck

Speakers for the ceremony included Jean Bartels, Ph.D., R.N., interim University president; Barry Joyner, Ph.D., dean, College of Health and Human Sciences; Sharon Radzyminski, Ph.D., J.D., R.N., chair, School of Nursing; Melissa Garno, Ed.D., R.N., director, School of Nursing BSN program; and Emily McGuire, president, Georgia Southern University Student Nurses Association.

“When you have memories, you need a place to bring them so that you can reflect and you can do that in a place that’s beautiful,” Bartels said. “Today, we dedicate this beautiful place to think, to remember and to celebrate the beautiful lives taken far too soon.”

Located at the School of Nursing, the garden consists of seven crepe myrtle trees surrounded by apricot-colored azalea plants — apricot is the color for the profession of nursing. The five center trees will produce white blossoms and the outer two trees will produce pink blossoms. Paired with a magnolia tree donated by the University of Pennsylvania, the trees’ canopy will provide shade and protection for those who use it symbolizing the students’ desire to care and protect others.

“The planting of trees to honor another individual is an ancient ritual,” Radzyminski said. “The tree is considered an important image of wisdom, knowledge and life. When a tree digs deep roots and grows wide branches, it does so through the abundant love and grace made known by the person who plants it or is represented by it. These seven women exemplified the love, compassion, beauty and grace signified by the tree.”

Pittman and the other six students were traveling to Savannah’s St. Joseph’s Hospital when the crash happened around 5:45 a.m. April 22 near mile marker 141. A preliminary investigation indicates a tractor trailer “failed to stop” as traffic was slowed/stopped and crashed into a line of vehicles, the Georgia State Patrol previously told Patch.

The state agency said four of the occupants died at the scene: three in a Toyota Corrolla and one in a Ford Escape. The three additional occupants of the Escape were transported to Memorial Medical Center where one of three passed away.

Three others involved in the wreck were injured in the crash.

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Photo credits: Georgia Southern University