NEWBERRY, S.C. --
South Carolina Highway Patrol officials said two people died and five others were hurt when a car and ambulance crashed near Newberry Friday night.
SCHP Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth said the crash occurred on U.S. 76 about 7.5 miles west of Newberry just before 9:30 p.m.
Edgeworth said the two vehicles were traveling west on U.S. 76 as the ambulance approached the car from behind with lights and sirens running. The car pulled to the right of the ambulance to yield right of way, he said.
As the ambulance was going around the car, the car veered back onto the roadway and the vehicles collided, Edgeworth said.
Lea Kraemer, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sarah Doelker, 23, died in the Newberry County Memorial Hospital emergency room. SCHP officials said the two victims were from Germany.
Five others, including three people from the car and two from the ambulance, were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The coroner's office has not released the names of the two women who died, pending notification of their families.
The young women who died were students at Presbyterian College according to the school.
Presbyterian College president John Griffith released the following statement Saturday evening:
"Last night we learned that a group of our students was involved in an automobile accident and that two of them were killed.
"This tragedy touches all of us as members of a community. We are saddened and shaken by our loss.
"My prayers go out to the families of these young people and especially those who lost their children last night.
"We ask that the public, including the media, respect the privacy of our students as we mourn. Please keep us in your prayers."
Copyright 2010 by WYFF4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
