Douglas County, Ga. — Around 3:36 a.m. on March 28, friends and family lost a bright light when an 18‑year‑old Chapel Hill High School senior, Patience Price, was killed in a single‑car crash on Chapel Hill Road near Rosemont Drive. The Georgia State Patrol says the Mercedes she was riding in was moving at a high rate of speed when it failed to navigate a curve, left the roadway, struck an embankment, became airborne, and flipped multiple times before coming to rest.
Price was in the front passenger seat and was likely not wearing a seat belt. She was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver suffered only minor injuries, and a back‑seat passenger was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Investigators say the driver showed no signs of impairment and the crash remains under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.
At Chapel Hill High School, counselors were brought in and families were notified of the loss. Students and staff are grieving the sudden death of a classmate who was just months from graduation. Friends described Price as someone with a warm presence, a bright smile, and a heart that lifted others. She faced health challenges with courage and met life with a spirit that inspired those around her.
In the days after the crash, a vigil was held at Hunter Memorial Park where hundreds gathered in candles and quiet remembrance. The driver of the vehicle spoke at the vigil and offered an apology, and Price’s mother urged forgiveness, saying her daughter would have wanted love to guide everyone through the heartbreak. The gathering was emotional, with friends sharing stories of Price’s hopes to graduate and her plans for the future.
A GoFundMe campaign was started by Price’s family to assist with funeral costs, with donations pouring in from the community. In messages shared by her mother, Price was remembered as deeply faithful, caring, and loved by many. The outpouring of support gave her family a measure of comfort amid shock and grief.
The Douglas County community continues to mourn, with classmates navigating the reality that someone they knew so well is gone. Patrol officials say the investigation into the crash could take more time, and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward, as Chapel Hill Road remains a somber reminder of how quickly life can change.
