Saturday, Sep. 27, 2008

Auburn student dies in Lee County car crash

For the second time this week, an Auburn University student has died in a car crash.

Hunter Lane Keel, 19, of Blue Ridge, Ga., was driving east on Lee Road 66 in Lee County, Ala., around 4 a.m. Saturday when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and the vehicle left the road.

Keel tried to get the 2002 Chevy Z71 pick-up back on the road, but it overturned on its side. Keel, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected from the truck, which landed on him and killed him instantly, said Lee County Coroner Bill Harris.

Harris pronounced Keel dead at the scene from a massive head injury.

Speed and alcohol are both suspected in the accident, the coroner said.

Three passengers in the truck, all who were not injured: Lauren Watts, 18, of Lawrenceville, Ga., Ryan Bond, 18, of Auburn, Ala., and Keel's sister, Sarah Jean Keel, 18. Watts and the Keel siblings were all Auburn University students.