College student killed in wreck on way to be pallbearer in friend’s funeral

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) – An Atlanta man driving home to his best friend’s funeral was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 near Opelika.

Corporal Jess Thornton of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency tells local media that 20-year-old Malik Cooper was driving a Honda Accord Sunday morning on I-85. When he reached the 44-mile marker, Cooper’s car left the road and overturned before striking several trees.

Cooper was pronounced dead on the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Cooper was a student at Tuskegee University and was determined to be in the funeral for a friend, WSB-TV reported.

“He was determined to get here to be a pallbearer, but unfortunately accidents happened,” Cooper’s stepfather Charles Grimes told the Atlanta television station.

Alabama State Troopers are investigating the incident.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 9:24 AM with the headline "College student killed in wreck on way to be pallbearer in friend’s funeral."