The Athens-Clarke County Police Department says a wrong-way driver triggered a multi-vehicle crash on GA 10 Inner Loop on Dec. 21, killing 25-year-old Soonhoon Choi at the scene. His wife, 25-year-old Lexi Waldroup, died in hospital on Dec. 24 along with her 15-week fetus. The wrong-way driver also died, several others were injured, and the ACCPD investigation remains open. A GoFundMe to help cover medical and funeral costs had raised nearly $30,000 as of Dec. 25.
Wrong-Way Crash in Athens Kills Young Couple and Unborn Child; GoFundMe Raises Nearly $30K
GoFundMe(L-R) Lexi Waldroup and Soonhoon Choi
Authorities in Athens, Georgia, say a wrong-way driver caused a multi-vehicle collision in the early hours of Dec. 21 that left three people dead, including a young husband, his pregnant wife and the couple's unborn child.
Crash Overview
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) reports that officers first received a call about a wrong-way driver on GA 10 Inner Loop at Chase Street at about 12:08 a.m. local time on Dec. 21. Minutes later, police were alerted to a multi-vehicle crash on the Inner Loop at Oglethorpe Avenue.
What Happened
According to the ACCPD's preliminary investigation, 26-year-old Desiree Browning was driving a 2021 Kia Seltos the wrong way on the Inner Loop. The Kia first struck a 2021 Mercedes-Benz and a 2020 Ford Expedition, then continued against traffic and collided head-on with a 2017 Toyota Camry. The Kia came to rest on the loop's cable barriers and became engulfed in flames.
Victims and Injuries
The occupants of the Toyota Camry were identified as Soonhoon Choi, 25, and his wife Lexi Waldroup, 25, both of Athens. Choi was pronounced dead at the scene. Waldroup was critically injured and transported to a hospital, where the ACCPD announced on Dec. 24 that she had died along with her 15-week fetus.
Browning also sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the crash site. A passenger in Browning's vehicle was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Occupants of the Mercedes-Benz and the Ford Expedition sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
A GoFundMe established after the crash to help cover medical costs and support the couple's unborn child has been updated to pay for funeral and related expenses; it had raised nearly $30,000 as of Dec. 25. The fundraiser's organizer, Aaron Bedgood Jr., shared a message honoring Lexi's fight and the family's loss.
"She fought with everything she had — with courage, strength, and love — and her passing has left an ache that cannot be described. What began as hope and prayer has turned into unimaginable heartbreak," Bedgood wrote.
An obituary for Choi and Waldroup described the couple as "two souls bound by love, devotion, and an unbreakable bond," and remembered their caring qualities and commitment to family. Both are survived by their parents and other relatives.
The ACCPD says its investigation into the crash remains open as authorities continue to piece together the full sequence of events.
Key facts: The crash occurred on GA 10 Inner Loop on Dec. 21 around 12:08 a.m.; Soonhoon Choi and Desiree Browning died at the scene; Lexi Waldroup died in hospital on Dec. 24 along with her 15-week fetus; multiple other people suffered injuries of varying severity.
