Two University of Memphis students died Sunday morning in a car crash as they returned home from a weekend trip.
Eighteen-year olds Brandon Henson and David Gregory had traveled to Alabama to visit friends for the weekend. The two decided to return to Memphis around 3 a.m. Sunday.
Gregory was driving when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a parked car in a residential neighborhood in Ashland, Miss. Both men were killed instantly. Police found the men in their car around 8 a.m. Sunday.
Bob Riles, Benton County coroner, said he does not believe alcohol played a factor in the crash.
“The car left the road into a parked truck,” Rile said. “In my opinion, they fell asleep.”
Both Gregory and Henson were recent graduates of Briarcrest Christian High School and were first semester freshmen here at The U of M. Both were also pledging in the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Gregory was the son of Cindy and Allen Gregory and brother to Loryn Gregory.
Henson was the son of Terry and Cyndi Henson and brother to Denise Shearin and Patrick Henson.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the parents, families, and friends of these individuals,” said Chris West, Chapter Advisor and spokesperson for Kappa Sigma. “They were two of the finest individuals that we had the pleasure of knowing, and it is a great loss for this University and the community. They will be greatly missed.”
Visitation for the two men was held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel. The Funeral will take place today at 2 p.m. at Ridgeway Baptist Church with burial in Memorial Park.
Activities of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity have been put on hold until further notice.
This is the third auto-related death at The U of M this semester.
The families have request ed that memorials be sent to the Briarcrest Building Fund.
