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Seven Mount Olive students involved in Jeep crash, two killed

The University of Mount Olive on Friday identified the seven people involved in an overnight crash as students. Six of them were members of the university women's lacrosse team.

Posted Updated

By
Joe Fisher
, WRAL reporter
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — The University of Mount Olive on Friday identified the seven people involved in an overnight crash as students. Six of them were members of the university women's lacrosse team.

The seven women were in a Jeep that was T-boned by a tractor trailer at the intersection of N.C. Highway 55 and Indian Springs Road in Mount Olive at 12:53 a.m. on Friday.

Two died at the scene: Freshmen exercise science major Madison Mergl of Sayville, NY, and sophomore agribusiness major Ann Wray of Oakland, NJ.

Chaney Partrich of Chapin, SC, later died of injuries suffered in the crash.

Four others were taken to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville:

  • sophomore biology major Tiffany Lee of Gambrills, MD;
  • freshman exercise science major Alex Eubanks of Bowie, MD;
  • sophomore healthcare management major Amber McCarthy of Havelock, NC;
  • senior business management major Jett Swetland from Sparta, Ohio.

“It is a sad day for the University of Mount Olive," said university interim president Dr. Ed Croom.

"We are in prayer for everyone involved in this horrific accident. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of Ann Wray and Madison Mergl, and we uplift all of the others in our prayers as they continue to receive medical treatment. The University of Mount Olive is a close-knit community and this has hit us all hard.”

Troopers said the driver and the woman in the front seat were wearing seatbelts. The passengers in the back were not.

The Jeep overturned on the property of Unity Baptist Church.

College students killed in crash between Jeep and tractor trailer

Officials said the driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured and is not charged at this time. According to a trooper, the Jeep was driving north on Indian Springs Road and failed to yield at the intersection.

Speed was not considered to be a factor; however, an ALE agent was working to determine to what extent alcohol may have been a factor after finding evidence of beer and wine at the scene.

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