Student Killed When Young Driver Loses Control

Tanesha Leshay Williams was a quiet, reserved fourteen year old. The freshman at Stone Mountain High School did not have many friends, but those who did know her describe a person who was kind, caring and worth knowing once she opened up. Williams’ father, Anwar Bass, speaks of a girl who wanted to help people – a girl who spoke of being a nurse or a message therapist or a teacher when she grew up. According to Bass, the job she looked forward to in the future changed often, but the goal of helping others stayed the same.

“Let me know when you get to 12th grade,” Bass said he told her.

Unfortunately, Bass will not have the opportunity to see just what path his daughter would have chosen for herself in the end. Tanesha Leshay Williams died when a green Crown Victoria left the road and struck her while she was walking between her high school and her mother’s home. The car also hit two other students, one male and one female, leaving them with nonfatal injuries. The seventeen year old driver of the Crown Victoria – who may or may not have been one of Williams’ fellow students – also suffered some minor injuries as the result of losing control of the car.

Williams was rushed to hospital, but as far as her father is concerned, she died on the scene of the accident.

“It knocked the last wind out of her,” he said.

Alexandra Stamper, also fourteen and one of Williams few friends, talked with AJC after the incident. Stamper explained how she and the other girl had been friends since they met in middle school.

“I was the only person she would talk to,” Stamper said, then continued, “She was a very cool person when you got to know her.”

“I think she didn’t really feel that good about herself. She looked up to me. I would encourage her whenever I saw her to hold her head up because she was always walking like she was sad,” Stamper said explained.

Stamper left a teddy bear at the memorial students had built for Williams. While Williams was not well known, the fact that one of their schoolmates has died did not leave other Stone Mountain students unmoved. The fact has left many of the students shaken and aware of the dangers of losing control of a car.

“I just think people just gotta control their cars and know where they are going,” said Tyrelle Harrison, a seventeen year old junior at Stone Mountain.

Harrison walks to school every day, and on the day after Williams death, found himself walking on the opposite side of the road as he thought of what had happened.

Grief counselors have been made available to Stone Mountain High School students.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a driver, it is important to talk with an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer immediately. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule your free consultation.