2 University of Alabama students die in auto crash

Two University of Alabama students were killed Friday night in a crash on Interstate 65 near Mobile. Satsuma Police Chief David Benefield tells News 5 that six girls, all students at the University of Alabama, were traveling south on I-65 south on their way to the beach for the Labor Day holiday weekend. The accident happened around 8:20 Friday night when one of the vehicles the girls were traveling in left the road and overturned. Witnesses tell investigators it appeared the driver of the vehicle overcompensated while trying to keep the 2002 Ford Explorer on the road.

The driver of that vehicle, an 18 year-old from Mountain Brook, was found dead in the vehicle. Three passengers in the same vehicle were taken to USA Medical Center to be treated for injuries. One of those passengers, a 22-year-old from Texas, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Chief Benefield says the other two passengers, both 18 years-old UA students, are being treated at USA Medical Center for scrapes and bruises. Investigators say all four students in the Explorer were wearing their seat-belts when the accident occurred. The two other girls traveling with them were in another vehicle and were not injured. Authorities are still trying to notify family members of the victims so their names are not being released at this time.