Morgan Gamble’s family is demanding answers after the 21-year-old Clark Atlanta University senior was killed by a driver police say was speeding at 94 mph in a 35-mph zone.
Gamble, a media-studies student who had worked on the Netflix revival of “A Different World” and even made a brief on-screen appearance, died late Tuesday night when her car was struck on Hank Aaron Drive in Atlanta. Police said the other driver, Nikolai Dunford, was traveling nearly triple the posted speed limit. He has been charged with reckless driving, speeding and first-degree vehicular homicide.
Gamble was rushed to a hospital following the crash but did not survive her injuries. The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m., according to police.
Her father, George Gamble, expressed both grief and disbelief in an interview with Atlanta News First.
“We’ve been coping with it. Dealing with it,” he said. “[We’re] trying to find out the answers, trying to get some clarity on how this could happen.”
He returned to the speed again in his remarks.
“I’m just really perplexed as to how a car can travel 95 miles an hour in a ‘[35] miles per hour’ zone,” George Gamble said.
Precious Sesay, a resident who lives near the crash site, heard the impact and ran outside to assist. She called 911 after seeing Gamble’s condition.
“All I could do is tell the police ‘She’s young and she needs help right now,'” Sesay said.
Gamble’s sister, Azhae Hylton, remembered her as a natural leader who drew people to her.
“She was a leader. That’s why you see a lot of pictures of her in groups because she is the light that everybody is drawn to,” Hylton told Atlanta News First.
At Clark Atlanta University, where Gamble was pursuing media and production, she had recently been crowned “Miss Omega Psi Phi” by her sorority. She had also launched new clubs and podcasts on campus. Beyond her studies, she worked on multiple film and media sets around Atlanta, including her student-assistant role on the “A Different World” production that led to her cameo.
The university organized counseling support sessions for students on Wednesday and Thursday following news of her death.
“The loss of a member of our University community is deeply felt, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Morgan’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved Morgan,” the university said in a statement. “During this time of sorrow, scholars are encouraged to support one another.”
Community members have raised concerns about dangerous driving at the intersection where Gamble was killed. Kayla Starks pressed city officials for action in the wake of the tragedy.
City officials need “to respond to this accident and tell us: What’s the compromise? Because somebody’s child is gone and that’s not changing,” Starks said.
Dunford faces multiple charges as the investigation continues.