Days after he was airlifted by LifeStar helicopter to Memorial Health in Savannah, Tam Duc Le, the 17-year-old driver of the car in which three teens were killed earlier this week, remained in critical condition Friday afternoon, according to Bryan County Sheriff Clyde Smith.
A candelight vigil for Le’s passengers, Heather Janel Arthur, 15; her sister, Melissa Faye Arthur, 17; and Laura C. Cobb, 16, was scheduled to be held Friday night at Bryan County High School.
And Wednesday evening, about 100 friends, family members, teachers, classmates and community members gathered at the scene of the accident to honor the memory of the girls who were killed in the wreck, holding candles and gathering around a makeshift memorial of flowers and balloons.
Bryan County School Superintendent Sallie Brewer said Thursday there were eight counselors at Bryan County High School to talk with students grieving the loss of the three girls.
"The job of the school (Wednesday) was to take care of the children at Bryan County High School," Brewer said. "Principal (Harold) Roach and his staff did a good job of that."
Brewer said Roach held an assembly Wednesday morning to tell the students about the wreck.
"The students were emotional all day, that’s why we had professional assistance," she said.
The wreck occurred on Highway 119 just north of Bryan County High school. Captain Mike Maxwell with the Bryan County Sheriff’s Department said Le’s red Chevrolet Cavalier was traveling south when he apparently lost control. After crossing the center line his car collided with a Ford truck driven by Robin Wilkes of Ellabell. There were no passengers in the truck.
While Le was airlifted to Memorial Health, Wilkes was taken by ambulance to East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro and was released from the hospital on Thursday.
The wreck, according to Maxwell, happened around 8 a.m. Wednesday about two miles north of Pembroke. Maxwell, the lead investigator of the accident, said he didn’t know what may have caused Le’s car to cross the center line.
"Part of the investigation is looking into speed," Maxwell said. "Speed is something always looked at, along with impaired and reckless driving. We will go where the evidence points us."
Maxwell said the investigation could take a few months to complete.
Funeral arrangements for the three girls have been made through Morrison Funeral Home in Pembroke. Visitation for Heather and Melissa Arthur will be held today from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. for current and former teachers and classmates and from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. for the public. Their funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Pembroke.
Visitation for Laura Cobb will be from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday and her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Morrison Funeral Home Chapel.
Memorial funds have been set up for Heather and Melissa Arthur and Laura Cobb at the Heritage Bank. Donations can be made at any Heritage Bank branch.