Columbia, TN : Fourth-grader killed and four others injured in a wreck on New Lewisburg Highway on Monday morning, December 7, 2015

A 9-year-old girl was killed in a wreck on New Lewisburg Highway on Monday morning.

A pickup truck reportedly rear-ended a white car at Exit 37, just west of Interstate 65.

“When the 2004 Pontiac slowed down, the F-350 truck failed to slow down and then struck the Pontiac in the rear end,” said Sgt. David Hannah with Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Three juvenile passengers were in the car, and two of them are reported to be the driver's children.

One of the juveniles died at the scene. Maury County School officials have confirmed she is a fourth-grader at Culleoka School.

THP later identified the victim as 9-year-old Kirstynn Edmiston of Columbia. She was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

The two other juveniles, 6-year-old Joanna Edmiston and 12-year-old Devyn McCandles, were airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Both drivers were taken to Maury Regional Hospital. Their injuries are not life threatening.

THP is handling the investigation. They do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

Troopers said the driver of the truck, 21-year-old Riley Ring of Columbia, was not paying attention when he rear-ended the family. They are looking into his cell phone to see if that is why he was distracted.

Grief counselors met with students on Monday to help them cope with the loss of the student. One student described the day as “emotional.”

“All I know is in second block, a girl came in and she was upset,” said Elizabeth Wilson, a student at Culleoka School. “She had some friend with her and she had a big paper for everyone to sign, and I signed it and wrote my name on it and said I was praying for them.”

Source :

Fourth-grader killed in crash on New Lewisburg Highway