Two U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets were killed and another cadet driving was injured in a fatal two-car crash in New Jersey early Saturday morning, according to academy officials.
First Class Cadet Soso Makaridze and Third Class Cadet Bersarian Gorjoladze, who were both international cadets from the Republic of Georgia, died in the accident, according to David Santos, of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London.
First Class Cadet Joel MacArthur was driving the car they were in during the crash, which happened just after midnight early Saturday morning on Route 31 in New Jersey, Santos said. MacArthur was hospitalized with injuries and has since been treated and released.
"The Academy community is grieving the loss of two of our cadets," Academy Superintendent RADM Sandra Stosz said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by their passing and are fully committed to helping the Corps of Cadets cope with this tragedy."
NBC 10 Philadelphia reported that MacArthur, 21, collided with an oncoming car on Route 31 in Hopewell Township in New Jersey. His front-seat passenger died on-scene and a person riding in the back seat died later at the hospital, according to the news station.
The two people in the other car, Devon Tomb, 28, and Christine Thompson, 28, of Mount Olive Township, New Jersey, were also transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries, NBC 10 Philadelphia reported.
The academy is currently on spring break, so memorial services have not been scheduled at this time.
