A COLLEGE athlete has died and two others are hurt after they were hit by a car while training for a track meet, according to authorities.

Police told The Sun that a driver hit members of Milligan University's cross country/track and field team as they ran as a group on Thursday night.

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The university released a statement on Thursday announcing the death of sophomore Eli Cramer.

“We are incredibly shocked and saddened to share that members of our men’s cross country/track & field team were in an accident involving a vehicle this evening while running near Williamsburg, VA,” the university statement read.

“Sophomore Eli Cramer succumbed to his injuries. Seniors Alex Mortimer and Eli Baldy also were injured. Mortimer currently is undergoing treatment. Baldy was treated and released.

“We covet your prayers during this difficult time, especially for the Cramer family.”

The Virginia State Police is investigating the crash.

"Preliminary investigations reveal that at approximately 6.02 pm, five members of the Milligan University men's cross country/track and field team were running along Williamsburg Pottery Road, when they were all struck by a 2-door vehicle," the public information officer for the Virginia State Police told The Sun.

"The car continued down Williamsburg Pottery Road, fleeing the scene of the crash.

"Shortly thereafter, the car crashed into the median on Route 199. The driver was taken into custody."

According to police, all five pedestrians were taken to Williamsburg Sentara Hospital, where Cramer eventually died.

"This is still an active crime scene and the crash remains under investigation," the police spokesperson said, adding that charges are pending at this time.

'HEARTBREAKING'

Will Boling, a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN, shared a tribute to Cramer late Thursday.

"Heartbreaking news. No one loved track more than Eli Cramer," he wrote on Twitter.

"Good guy who always had a smile on his face every time you saw him at a meet. Prayers to his family and the Milligan community."

Milligan University is a private Christian school in Milligan College, Tennessee. The track and field team had a meet in Virginia at 9am the next day.

Students gathered at a vigil hours after the crash to mourn Cramer and pray for his teammates.

Counselors were on-site to assist students at the event.

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