Five nursing students tragically died early on Wednesday in a chain-reaction crash in southeast Georgia that authorities said began when a tractor-trailer failed to slow down and smashed into stop-and-go traffic. Those killed were traveling on Interstate 16 near Savannah in two passenger vehicles mangled by the crash. The tractor-trailer plowed into an SUV, then rolled over a small passenger car that burst into flames, said Sgt. 1st Class Chris Nease of the Georgia State Patrol. The big truck came to a halt after slamming into the back of a tanker. Scroll down for video . Tragedy: A Georgia state trooper works the scene of a deadly crash in which five nursing students from Georgia Southern University died Wednesday morning . Victims: Abbie Deloach (left), of Savannah, and Emily Clark, of Powder Springs, (right) were among the five young women killed in the horrific crash . Sad: Caitlynn Baggett (left), of Millen, and Catherine McKay Pittman, of Alpharetta, (right) were also killed . Terrible loss: Leesburg woman Morgan Bass was also killed in the horrific crash . All five of the dead were nursing students at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, about 30 miles from the crash site. St. Joseph's/ Candler Health System said the students were commuting to St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah for their last day of clinical training of the school year. 'The loss of any student, especially in a tragic way, is particularly painful,' Brooks Keel, president of Georgia Southern, said in a statement. 'Losing five students is almost incomprehensible.' The Georgia State Patrol said three people also were injured and seven vehicles were damaged. The crash occurred at about 6 a.m. in Bryan County, about 20 miles west of Savannah. Traffic was heavy at that hour because an unrelated wreck about a mile ahead that forced motorists to slow, Nease said. 'Traffic was sort of stop-and-go when the tractor-trailer came along and struck one of the passenger vehicles in the rear,' Nease said. 'We're still trying to piece it all together. It's a terrible day.' The university said the students were all Georgia residents in their junior year - Emily Clark of Powder Springs, Morgan Bass of Leesburg, Abbie Deloach of Savannah, Catherine Pittman of Alpharetta and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen. Ages weren't given. Hospital officials said they were wrapping up clinical training for the year. Mangled: The five women, all of them juniors, were driving separately in two vehicles that were both mangled in the accident . Terrible accident: The Georgia State Patrol said three people also were injured and seven vehicles were damaged . 'You could tell they really loved what they did,' Sherry Danello, the hospital's chief nursing officer, said in a statement. 'They didn't just go through the task, they really connected to the patients.' The crash halted some motorists for more than six hours as road crews and tow trucks cleared the wreckage. Even when traffic began moving again, troopers kept a 6-mile stretch of eastbound I-16 closed as they investigated. Nease said the driver of the tractor-trailer had not been cited as investigators worked to determine exactly what happened. The driver's name was not immediately released. State troopers said weather didn't seem to be a factor. 'There was no fog or smoke. It was clear as a bell,' said Sgt. Chris Rodewolt of the State Patrol. 'We did have heavy, heavy traffic.' Two mangled passenger vehicles rested Wednesday at the bottom of an embankment beside the interstate. In front of them, just off the highway, was a tractor-trailer with its cab smashed into the back of a tanker truck. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragedy that took place this morning. Several Georgia Southern students died and two were injured in an early morning crash on I-16 eastbound near Savannah. We are unable to release the names of these students at this time because we are awaiting notification to families. Every one of our students contributes in no small measure, to the Eagle Nation. The loss of any student, especially in a tragic way, is particularly painful. Losing five students is almost incomprehensible. Our hearts go out to the families, friends and classmates of these students. The University flag will fly at half-staff Thursday in their memory. Memorial arrangements are pending. Let me urge those particularly touched by this tragedy to avail themselves of counseling services, and I urge all members of the University community to support each other during this time. Source: WBTW .
The women were traveling near Savannah in two vehicles mangled by the when a tractor-trailer plowed into an SUV, then rolled over a small car .
Killed were Emily Clark, Morgan Bass, Abbie Deloach, Catherine Pittman and Caitlyn Baggett - All juniors at Georgia Southern University .
The Georgia State Patrol said three people also were injured and seven vehicles were damaged .