An 18-year-old has died from injuries suffered this week when a car struck her and six other bicyclists riding across the country, Overland Summer Camp announced Thursday.
Merritt Levitan of Milton, Mass., died at a hospital in Memphis from injuries she suffered in the Tuesday crash, said Jonathan Igoe, a spokesman for Overland, the Massachusetts-based group that organized the cross-country trip. Nursing supervisor Jackie Smartt told The Associated Press that Levitan died Wednesday afternoon.
“Liz [Costley] and I, and the entire Overland community, are heartsick by this tragic loss,” said Tom Costley, the founder of Overland, in a statement posted on the company’s website. “We extend our deepest condolences to Merritt’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Levitan and the six other bicyclists were injured in the crash about two miles north of McCrory. They were traveling from Charleston, S.C., to Santa Monica, Calif., as part of a six-week trip.
Igoe said the group consisted of 11 students, ages 15-18, and two leaders.
Two other members of the group remained hospitalized and were in stable condition Thursday, Igoe said.
Teagan Ross Martin, 21, of Newport was driving the car and was uninjured.
Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A blog post on the company’s website said the remainder of the trip would be canceled and that company officials were working with the families to make arrangements to get the students home.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 07/05/2013