A 21-year-old University of Georgia student died in a tragic accident when his parked Toyota Tundra rolled backward and struck him in Athens, Georgia. George Whittenburg III was standing outside the driver's door of his 2018 Tundra on January 28 when the vehicle began moving in reverse, police said.

According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the truck continued rolling after hitting Whittenburg, colliding with another unoccupied vehicle before stopping against a tree. He was rushed to the hospital but died two days later. Police say the incident remains under investigation.

Whittenburg, a third-year accounting student from Austin, Texas, was remembered by friends and family as a deeply faithful young man dedicated to serving others. He was active in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and various Christian ministries. Hundreds attended a prayer vigil at the fraternity house on February 2, where friends recalled his commitment to faith and mentoring younger students.