N. Oconee High School Coach Killed in Crash
Son of UGA Women's Basketball Coach
among Injured
By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/25/07

ATHENS — Drew Landers, the son of Georgia women's basketball coach Andy Landers, was in critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit at Grady Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday morning.

Drew Landers, a rising senior at North Oconee High School, was one of three passengers in a Honda Accord that was struck head-on by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 20 in Oxford, Ala., Sunday evening. Shawn Smith, an assistant basketball coach at North Oconee who was driving the Accord, was killed.

Students David Firth and Ja'Rius Ross were also injured in the crash and were transported to Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Alabama. They were treated and released, according to the hospital.

Claude Felton, a spokesperson for the Georgia Athletics Association, said federal laws prevented him from disclosing details of Drew Landers' condition. However, he did say he received a text message from Coach Landers early Monday morning that indicated Drew Landers, who was life-flighted from Anniston to Atlanta overnight, got "a good report" from Grady doctors and would recover from his injuries.

Andy Landers did not immediately return messages left on his cell phone.

According to Calhoun County coroner Pat Brown, the crash occurred about 5 p.m. on I-20 in Oxford, about 12 miles from Jacksonville State University where the North Oconee basketball team was attending a summer camp.

The tractor-trailer driving in the westbound lane apparently crossed the median into the eastbound lane and struck the car head-on, Brown said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

See related article appearing on the Jacksonville State University newswire conveying heartfelt sympathy from the JSU community.

 

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