BEACHTON, Ga. — An 18-year-old Thomasville High School student was killed Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle collision along Highway 319 that held up traffic for approximately three hours, according to Georgia State Patrol Trooper Mick Johnson.

Both vehicles were traveling northbound along 319 when contact was made, causing the black pickup truck THS senior Levi Knop was driving to veer off the left side of the road onto the center median, striking a tree head-on.

Johnson said 18-year-old Brookwood student Anna McBride struck Knop’s pickup truck in the rear.

McBride spun out of control onto the east shoulder of the highway and into a ditch. The Brookwood student escaped with minor injures and was conscious and alert at the scene.

Knop was pronounced dead on the scene and was transported to Grady General Hospital.

Johnson said the exact causes of the collision are still under investigation but that charges are pending in the case.

The state patrol requested specialized collision reconstruction teams (SCRT) that specialize in fatalities to assist in determining possible charges in the investigation.

Law enforcement officials notified Knop’s parents of his passing.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time the collision occurred. No passengers were in either vehicle.

The collision occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. near mile marker 6 near Beachton.

Police and ambulance from both Thomas and Grady counties responded to the scene as it occurred near the county border. It was determined that the incident occurred within Grady County lines.

Knop, a senior at Scholars Academy and a Thomasville High baseball player, was on his way to school when the incident took place.

THS Principal Shannon Norfleet said Knop took classes at both the high school and Scholars Academy.

Norfleet said the school was notified of the incident when Scholars Academy director Jeanene Wallace was notified via telephone.

Norfleet informed THS staff of Knop’s passing in a school-wide email announcement Tuesday morning.

The principal said grief counseling would be offered all day at both THS and Scholars Academy. Youth pastors from several local churches offered their services to the campuses when news of the incident broke.

“I wanted to express on behalf of THS, Scholars Academy, and Thomasville City Schools how saddened we are at the loss of such a precious young life,” Norfleet said in a statement Tuesday. “We are committed to helping our students and community through this tough time and we really appreciate all the support we have received from our RESA members, surrounding counties, and our local churches and community members.”