UPDATE:  Patch has acquired the Virgin Islands Police Department’s report on the incident involving Ms. Nettles, stating that she and her friends were attempting to get out of a tide pool at Annaly Bay when a current pulled her under.

Very sad news out of Alabama that apparently has lit up Facebook among Decatur’s younger population, according to parents.

al.com reports of a car accident on State Route 77 early morning Thursday…

Madison Minor Lewis, 19, was killed in the accident that happened around 3:20 a.m. She was a freshman third baseman on the Lady Bison softball team from Decatur, Ga.

I’ve also received some reports that another young Decaturite, Ellen Nettles, died in the Caribbean yesterday. Still trying to collect more details in that case, but multiple emails and comments have confirmed it. A very tough day for many in the Decatur community no doubt..

Our deepest sympathies go out to all the friends and family members.

UPDATE: Chief Booker writes in…

…yesterday at approximately 9:26am., Decatur officers responded to a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival officers determined that a female was walking northbound within the crosswalk in the 200 block of West Ponce de Leon Avenue at its intersection with Ponce de Leon Place. The driver of the Chevy Malibu failed to yield and subsequently struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian was treated on scene and then was transported to Atlanta Medical Center. Injuries sustained at the time of the accident did not appear to be life threatening.

The “wreck” reported on Twitter in the 9am hour at Ponce de Leon Ave and Ponce de Leon Place (in front of Cakes and Ale) was actually a pedestrian hit by a car.

Jonathan writes in with an eye-witness account…

I’m pretty sure a pedestrian got hit by a vehicle this morning crossing Ponce at Ponce Place. It’s possible that the pedestrian had just fallen or something and the driver (turning left on to Ponce, eastbound) just stopped right in front of her to help. But it looked like a vehicle-pedestrian collision.

Since multiple vehicles had stopped to tend to the downed pedestrian (who was sitting up in the crosswalk and seemed conscious) and I heard approaching ambulance sirens, I thought it would be best to stay out of the way.

Altmod referred to the incident as…

…the pedestrian hit this morning in front of Cakes and Ale while crossing the street. Many cop cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc. Any word if she is okay?

I’ve got a note in to Decatur PD requesting further detail.  Stay tuned.