The Franklin County High School Lady Lions girls' basketball team suffered a crushing blow off the court on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The players were headed to a scrimmage game that evening when a car, driven by a mother of one of the players, overturned on I-85 near Exit 166 in Carnesville.

17-year-old Kaneshia Thomas was a passenger in that car. She was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of her accident injuries.

Jasmine Williams and Sierra Simpson, two of the victim's teammates, as well as the driver of the car were all injured in the crash. They were taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson for treatment. Jasmine and Sierra are reported to have minor injuries and the condition of the driver was not released.

At this time, there has been no word on the official cause of the accident. Two of the accident survivors report that they spotted the driver of another vehicle on his cell phone and swerving, which caused the driver of the car in which Kaneshia, Sierra and Jasmine were travelling to slam on the brakes and overturn.

The Georgia State Patrol is continuing to investigate the cause of this Franklin County car accident.

We extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends, classmates and teammates of Kaneshia Thomas, and we extend our best wishes for a full and complete recovery to everyone else injured in this accident.