US

Three Sorority Sisters Heading to Spring Break Killed By Driver on the Wrong Side of the Road

3 Sorority Sisters Killed in Car Accident on the Way to Spring Break

(The Blaze/AP) — A driver going the wrong way on a highway crashed head-on into a car carrying five Bowling Green State University sorority sisters who were going out of town ahead of spring break, killing herself and three of the students and leaving two other students injured.

The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. on Interstate 75 south of Toledo, just miles from the campus.

Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said the accident occurred at a crest in the highway and he doubts the northbound student who was driving had any warning.

“I don’t think the college girls ever saw it coming. Nothing they could have done to avoid the crash,” Wasylyshyn said.

3 Sorority Sisters Killed in Car Accident on the Way to Spring Break

“The college girls apparently did nothing wrong. They were just driving northbound and a woman driving in the opposite direction in the wrong way on the roadway hit them head-on.” The woman was traveling alone.

The university said the students were members of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. The campus was working with police and hospital officials to notify families of the victims.

The university identified those killed as Rebekkah Blakkolb, 20, a junior from Aurora, Ohio, Christina Goyett, 19, a sophomore from Bay City, Mich., and Sarah Hammond, 21, a junior from Yellow Springs, Ohio.

The injured were identified as Angelica Mormile, 19, a freshman from Garfield Heights, Ohio, and Kayla Somoles, 19, a sophomore from Cleveland.

The school’s President Mary Ellen Mazey said in a Facebook posting that the two students were hospitalized with serious injuries.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the students were going north on the interstate on the way to the Detroit airport.

The university’s spring break begins Saturday.

It was the second school tragedy in five days in Ohio. On Monday, three students were fatally shot and two others were wounded at Chardon High School east of Cleveland. A 17-year-old was charged.

Ten years ago six Bowling Green students were killed returning home from a spring break trip to Florida.

The students, all 19, were returning from Panama City, Fla., on March 15, 2002, when their minivan slid into oncoming traffic and was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Authorities said severe winds and heavy rain may have contributed to the crash, which happened on Interstate 71 near Verona, Ky., about 25 miles south of Cincinnati.

The Toledo Blade reports that the driver on the wrong side of the road has been identified as Winifred Lein, 69, who died in the crash after her car became engulfed in flames.

According to The Daily Mail, court records show that Lein had been previously cited locally for a lane change violation. She plead guilty in September 2002 to the traffic violation and was told to pay $61 court costs.

Comments (64)

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  • Sniper48
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:44am

    What I want to see (since all involved were female) is how the cops and courts and especially the media are going to try to pin this on some hapless male somewhere. When they do this, an accident will magically become an assault.

    Report Post »  
    • sum1has2
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:49am

      Got some issues there?

      Report Post »  
    • GMP
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:59am

      Are you serious sniper48..? Way to take a tragedy and turn it in to something it doesn’t have to be. It’s a horrific tragedy that has nothing to do with sexism or male hatred.

      Grow up. Jerk..

      Report Post » GMP  
    • ivedonebeensassedbyawhore
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 2:21pm

      Jackazz.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 3:03pm

      I agree with the Sniper somewhat. I believe he was trying to point out the villification that is heaped upon the white male for even coughing wrong nowadays. He didn’t try to lesson the tragedy in any way. He is right. If it was a white guy that plowed into them his picture ( a mug shot like photo) along with his family’s address and phone number would be listed. Oh, along with a list of everything he has ever been accused of his entire life. That being said, to say the very least what an awful, horrible thing to happen to 3 lovely young women.

       
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:05pm

      Three more angels in heaven!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • drago
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:18am

    Why no name or description of the driver that kill these young girls? Is it because of their race, gender or age? How about it Blaze!?

    Report Post »  
  • jimmyv777
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 2:36am

    As tragic as this accident is, sometimes in life things just happen. You can’t make a law to protect the whole world. For the person who said why is a 69 year old lady driving at 230am. well i‘d say it’s none of your business. maybe she was bored, or whatever. Should we now pass a law so seniors can’t drive past midnight. Every time a single tragic event happens, some dumb law has to passed. Tragic things happen in life every day and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop the enevitable!

    Report Post »  
    • Choctaw25
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 7:53am

      There is already of “Rule of the Road” that has been effect since driving began in America, KEEP RIGHT STUPID.
      For some unknown reason other than mass stupidity, dumb a$$ people want to drive in the left lane on the Interstate, when there is no one to the right of them, the lane is OPEN, move to the right lane stupid. If you do encounter a wrong way driver (like these women did), you are in their lane of traffic (as they see it).
      The one thing that was impressed years ago in the Sheriff’s Academy was to never drive in the left hand hand lane (for any reason) after dark and the bars were closing. All the wrong way drunk drivers would be in the left hand (passing) lane on the Interstate.
      Now, when I’m driving, I get in the far right lane, set my cruise control at the posted speed limit and enjoy the ride. I always get there ahead of the “speed demons”, who ride along in the left hand lane slowing traffic and talking or texting on the phone.
      One simple rule of the road “Keep Right” and those young girls would be alive today enjoying Spring Break, instead of where they are.
      Sound cold and hurtful, the Truth always is, my friend.

      Report Post » Choctaw25  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 3:07pm

      I have seen hundreds and hundreds of “seniors” that should in no way whatsoever be allowed to drive on the streets. They are a menace to society, but, since they vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, the system pretty much gives them a free pass to get drivers licenses. All the while denying the young kids a DL for stupid crap like not being able to parallel park. Well, at least they don’t text and drive, right?

      Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 2:32am

    Dear Lord, I pray for their families and I hope that they are deeply embraced in the warmth and strength of your arms. I pray that they know how much you Love them.

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:20am

    Thats the crapy cars made today out of plastic……….

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • The46Percent2008
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 12:06am

    Well, according to the Obama White House, these girls could have been saved if gas was $5.00 a gallon. …

    My prayers are with the families.

    Report Post » The46Percent2008  
    • Cousin_of_Marx
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:07am

      I am relieved and pleased to find that this tragic accident was somehow the fault of Liberals.

      Thank you all.

      Report Post » Cousin_of_Marx  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 7:12am

      @Cousin-of-Marx…..”I am relieved and pleased to find that this tragic accident was somehow the fault of Liberals.”

      Well, Couz, now you know how People who believe in personal responsibility (gettting an education,a job, then setting a positive role model for their kids) feel when our tax dollars are made to provide housing, day care, food, medical care, etc, for those who do not. Its always the fault of the “rich” who provide the jobs, pay the taxes, and obide by the law. Welcome!

      Report Post »  
  • DarcyKeith
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:10pm

    I was the only surviving backseat passenger when travelling with 4 other sorority sisters on I-75 from a sorority function at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY in 1991. A semi-tractor broadsided our car, and two of my sorority sisters were killed (3 of us lived). I can’t begin to explain what it feels like to have experienced losing two of your sorority sisters/friends in a terrible crash. It’s awful. More information about my story of the crash is on my website, http://www.DarcyKeith.com.

    Report Post »  
    • robert
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:17pm

      What an absolute tragedy and such a great loss to this country. All three of these women are absolutely beautiful.

      Such a shame.

      Report Post »  
  • doofuss
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:26pm

    So sad for both families… Pray for them all! just babies so tragic..

    Report Post »  
  • Loki
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:04pm

    Nearest off ramp for I75 sits right next to the onramp for northbound I75. It is easy for a person to turn into off ramp and not the onramp (exit 192 of Ohio i75) look on google maps. Poor road design by ODOT.

    Report Post » Loki  
    • sum1has2
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:31am

      You’re so right! That area is a nightmare. My daughters go to B.G., and that stretch of I-75 with the lousy ramp system is dangerous.

      Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 9:49pm

    This has really been a bad week for deaths; Whitney Houston, Davy Jones, Andrew Breitbart, and those killed in the tornadoes, now these young ladies. God rest their souls and condolences to the family and friends. That blue car looked wicked, I can’t imagine anyone surviving. For that much damage both had to be traveling more than 65 mph. Also if they were on the Interstate, the 69 year old woman must have had her lights off otherwise I am sure if the girls were paying attention they would have seen the car and honked the horn?

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • sum1has2
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:40am

      The girls were in the second car of a caravan headed to the airport. The first car, (also full of girls) managed to swerve. The second car didn’t stand a chance. The girls in the first car saw it all happen. Awful!

      Report Post »  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:47am

      Not to mention the soldiers who get killed EVERY week. But that’s OK, nobody else mentions them either.

      Report Post »  
  • ConservativeHippie
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 9:36pm

    What I heard on the news is the were driving to Detroit Metro Airport to catch a 5:30 am flight. My prayers go out for all the families involved, so very sad.

    Report Post » ConservativeHippie  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:51pm

    Just because this woman is 69 years old that caused this. Do not think for one minute they don’t drink or go as far as mixing prescription medications with alcohol. I was brought up in a veterans club and have been going there now over 40 years. I know plenty of woman over 69 that can drink like fish all day. That is why this story gets me so mad. The Police stated “They have no idea what caused her to be driving the wrong way”. Not the usual statement by the Police that they do not know yet if alcohol was a Contributor to this horrific crash. Especially OHIO! I pray for everyone’s safety. So sad when any life is lost.

    Report Post » MrKnowItAll  
  • beverlee
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:34pm

    My prayers are with all the families. Young or old, it is difficult to lose a loved one.

    Report Post » beverlee  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:22pm

    2:30 am? Why do people continue to drive in the middle of the night? There is a much greater percentage of driving-related deaths in the middle of the night than the daytime.

    I have a policy, I never drive after about 1230 am…too many drunks.

    Report Post »  
  • rsanchez1
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 7:56pm

    If you can avoid driving at night, please don’t drive at night. These sorority sisters could’ve afforded to wait until morning, it was just spring break.

    Report Post »  
    • sum1has2
      Posted on March 4, 2012 at 8:27am

      They were on their way to catch an early flight in Detroit.

      Report Post »  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 7:49pm

    Damn, I say, without reading any of the posts; What Ever Will Be Will Be!

    However, just to add; betcha the girls were giggling, and cutting up as they were driving along?

    Report Post »  
  • proudamerican1990
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 7:00pm

    Shame such young life is taken by someone acting irresponsibly.

    Prayers go out to them.

    Report Post »  
  • Sheepdog911
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Everyone but the driver that killed these girls was identified, and some from a decade ago. What, was the driver an illegal and it’s politically incorrect to identify her? This is a bet I know I’d win.

    Report Post » Sheepdog911  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 6:53pm

      The idiot was ID’s at the bottom of the article:

      The Toledo Blade reports that the driver on the wrong side of the road has been identified as Winifred Lein, 69, who died in the crash after her car became engulfed in flames.

      According to The Daily Mail, court records show that Lein had been previously cited locally for a lane change violation. She plead guilty in September 2002 to the traffic violation and was told to pay $61 court costs.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:13pm

      What was a 69 year old doing out at 2:30 in the morning? I’m not trying to be critical……it’s just a question.

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • Halloween
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 9:40pm

      At that time of the morning the bars have just closed and the drinkers are headed home…or to their graves.

      Report Post » Halloween  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:49pm

    …
    The media wanted the 69 year old driver to look like the villain, so they brought up a ten year old “lane change violation” charge against her.
    Ten years ago. Really? Is that the only traffic violation they could come up with? Doesn’t sound to me, like a person with a real bad driving record.

    The 69 year old driver could have had some sort of medical episode. Even a 16 year old driver could have a medical episode. I’ve heard no mention of drug or alcohol use. The media will end up spinning this into a “too old to drive” story.
    I feel sad for all the victims’ family members and friends.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:56pm

      I would bet that the weather had more to do with it than the age … it is easy to get turned around the way some of those ramps are .. if you couldn’t see the signs clearly I can see it happening ..

      Report Post »  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:58pm

      The media would like to use it for age discrimination.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 5:03pm

      You know what I think? I think a “Man” spirit put his finger on that old woman and caused her to hit them head on.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 7:25pm

      They can take my car when they pry my foot off the tire smoking gas pedal. VOLT by A$$.

      Report Post »  
    • RedDawn2012
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:21pm

      CATB, yep, it IS easy to be confused by the ramps sometimes, especially a nasty one like this where the on and off ramps are right next to each other, and especially if you‘re drunk and it’s 2:30am.

      Report Post » RedDawn2012  
  • Deb C
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Kinda wish the truck driver would have used his truck.

    Report Post » Deb C  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:42pm

    That’s terrible. Huh, I wonder what they were going to be doing in the Dominican Republic?

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Zorba53
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 5:07pm

      Perhaps, Timmy, they were going to play golf. Perhaps they were going as a sorority function. What, praytell, does their destination have to do with dying in a car crash?

      Report Post »  
    • fluke996
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:57pm

      Jealous? Punk.

      Report Post »  
  • angelcat
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:27pm

    My heart goes out to the families of these beautiful young ladies. I know from personal experience that losing a child is like having a hole torn in your heart that will never heal. I pray they have the failth, family, and friends that will give them the support that will help them to survive the pain they are feeling, though the pain of the loss never goes away.

    Report Post »  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:21pm

    How devastating for the families
    My prayers and heart goes out to them.

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:18pm

    So sad .. condolences to the families of those killed and injured .. I have driven that stretch of highway many times .. if someone came over a crest at you along that stretch you would have no chance.

    Report Post »  
  • ModerationIsBest
    Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:14pm

    So sad.

    Report Post »  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:42pm

      It’s a real tragedy……….heartfelt condolences to the families……so sorry

      Report Post » NancyBee  
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