Liberty releases statement on student fatality

Liberty University has confirmed that a student, Hannah Emmaline Williams, 18, of Sanford, N.C., was killed Thursday night in an accident with an approaching train in Amherst County.

Four other students were involved in the accident. One remains in critical condition, and three sustained minor injuries.

This morning during a university-wide convocation, thousands of Liberty students gathered to pray for those affected by this tragedy.

Liberty University President and Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. released this statement today:

“The Liberty University community is deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our students, faculty and staff are praying for the families of Hannah Williams and the students who were injured in the accident. Hannah recently transferred to Liberty and was one of the students who volunteered to travel to the northeast to help flood victims in that region earlier this semester. Hannah Williams made Liberty University proud in her short time as a student here. Her tragic death is a great loss, not only to her family, but to our university community as well.”