On July 2, UK biology junior MaRhonda Joy Collins died in a car wreck on southbound I-75 in Georgia. Collins, who was traveling with her family, was on her way to Orlando, Fl., to audition for “American Idol.”

Collins’ family, including her 11-year-old sister, Auguste Roberts, her mother, Cheryl Collins, 41, and her mother’s boyfriend, Jerome Roberts, 40, also died in the crash. The wreck occurred in Lowndes County, Georgia at 2:30 a.m., just north of the Florida state line. The family was traveling from Midway, Ky.

Engaged and planning on applying to medical school, Collins graduated from Scott County High School in 2007. Collins had already tried out for “Idol” last year in Louisville, but didn’t get chosen.

Authorities are trying to determine if the crash was the result of road rage. According to Georgia State Police, two other vehicles were involved in the wreck, including a black Honda and a Penske rental truck. Before the collision, the driver of the Honda was on the phone with the Lowndes County 911, reporting aggressive behavior from a silver Saturn. The Saturn’s driver was Roberts.

The Georgia State Police said the Saturn was attempting to block the Honda and was nearly stopped, when the Penske truck collided with the two vehicles. After traveling 30 yards or so after the collision, the vehicles skidded to a halt and the Saturn immediately caught on fire.

Roberts was extracted from the vehicle, but died on the scene. The occupants of the Honda and the rental truck suffered no injuries.

— Laura Clark