Two Grambling State students killed, 2 injured in car accident

Two Grambling State University students are dead and two other Grambling State students were injured as a result of a single-vehicle crash in Lincoln Parish early Friday morning said Louisiana State Police.
Harold Lewis, a senior education major from Monroe, was driving a 1992 Mazda 929 westbound on U.S. Interstate 20 near Choudrant, when he attempted to overcorrect the car after crossing a median, said a press release by Troop F Public Affairs Officer Julie Lewis. The release said the overcorrection caused the car to travel sideways across the two westbound lanes, run off the road and strike a tree, where it caught fire.
State Police arrived at the scene at approximately 3:12 a.m. and pronounced 20-year olds and backseat passengers Marquist McCray and Marcus D. Watson dead at the scene.
McCray, a junior pre-law major from Shreveport, was a member of the Tiger Marching Band. Watson, a sophomore management major from Bastrop, was a starting guard on the Tigers’ basketball team.
John R. Dorsey, a 19-year old freshman from Neptune, N.J., was sitting in the front passenger seat. He and Lewis were removed from the car by authorities.
Dorsey was treated at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston and later released. Lewis, 22, who police said was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered severe burns and was transported from Lincoln General Hospital to the LSU Burn Center in Shreveport.
“He (Watson) was an outstanding young man and student athlete. He was also on course to graduate on time,” said Larry Wright, head coach of Grambling State’s basketball team. “He started for us last year and would have started for us this year. We’re certainly going to miss having him in our program.
“It’s a dark day when you lose a kid like that,” Wright said.
According to a press release by Grambling State, a campus-wide memorial will be scheduled.
“The university and these families have suffered great losses,” said Grambling State President Horace Judson in the press release. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our prayers are with the families.”
According to State Police, alcohol was suspected to be a factor and Lewis will be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
Wright said the four students were coming from Monroe and the town of Choudrant was only about 15 miles east of Grambling State’s campus.
“Our sympathy goes out to the band, McCray’s family and everyone involved,” Wright said. “We’re walking around with a big hole in our hearts.”