Clayton News Daily

JONESBORO — A former Riverdale High girls basketball standout died Wednesday in a single-vehicle crash on Georgia Highway 166 in Douglas County.

According to reports from Tracey Watson of the Georgia Department of Public Safety Public Information Office, and as reported by the Douglas County Sentinel, Shanel Marie Little, 21, of Riverdale, was killed when her Toyota RAV4 sports utility vehicle careened off the side of a road, down an embankment and struck a tree. Little was the only passenger in the vehicle and the only driver involved.

The accident happened at about 7:45 a.m., and Little was pronounced dead on the scene.

Little was a 2010 graduate of Riverdale, and played three seasons for the Lady Raiders basketball program. She was a student teacher at New Manchester High School in Douglasville and a student at Georgia State University.

Little was also a member of Embassy International Worship Center in Atlanta. Her pastor, Bryan Meadows, said that the news of her death was hurtful to his congregation.

“We are deeply saddened and dismayed over the loss of Shanel Little,” Meadows said. “She was an intergalactic part of our team and church. She had a wonderful spirit and she will be missed.”

Check back with the Clayton News Daily for further updates.