Morgan Gamble: Driver Charged in Clark Atlanta Student's Death

Morgan Gamble, a 21-year-old senior at Clark Atlanta University, died after a car crash at Hank Aaron Drive and Glen Street in Atlanta, Georgia, late on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Atlanta police say the other driver, Nikolai Dunford, was traveling at about 94 mph when his vehicle struck hers, and he has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving and speeding.

The crash happened during Clark Atlanta's homecoming week, and it has left her family, friends and classmates grieving a young woman who was already working in the film and television industry before she had even graduated. Her loved ones are now asking the city to make the intersection safer so no other family goes through the same loss.

Who Was Morgan Gamble?

Morgan Gamble was a Mass Media Arts student at Clark Atlanta University and was in her senior year. According to her family, she wanted to become a film producer and had been working toward that goal since she first arrived on campus. She produced short films, biographies and documentaries, and she worked on the sets of several productions filmed in Atlanta.

One of those productions was Netflix's sequel to the classic sitcom A Different World. Her father told WSB-TV that she worked as a student production assistant on the show and made a brief appearance in its first episode. He had encouraged her to study the career of producer Shonda Rhimes.

Her family told Atlanta News First that she was a leader both inside and outside the classroom. She started clubs and podcasts and was crowned "Miss Omega Psi Phi." Her mother, Brandi Gamble, described her as "the producer of the family," the one who organized holidays and talent shows. "She knew what she wanted from day one," her mother told WSB-TV. Her brother, George Gamble III, said, "Everything she did had purpose."

What Happened on Hank Aaron Drive?

According to Atlanta police, the crash happened late Tuesday night at the intersection of Hank Aaron Drive and Glen Street, near the old Braves stadium site. CBS News Atlanta and Atlanta News First reported the time as around 11:30 p.m.

Investigators believe Dunford was driving north on Hank Aaron Drive at a high speed when his vehicle struck Gamble's car, which was heading west. Officers found Gamble critically hurt. She was taken to the hospital, where she died. TheGrio, citing police reports, reported that she died at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Police put Dunford's speed at about 94 mph. Reports differ on the posted limit at that spot: Atlanta News First and TheGrio reported it as a 35 mph zone, while WSB-TV reported the limit as 30 mph. Her father described the street as a residential area.

Neighbors and students who live nearby heard the crash and ran out to help. One witness, Precious Sesay, told Atlanta News First she called 911.

Has Anyone Been Arrested?

Yes. Atlanta police said Nikolai Dunford was arrested at the scene. He is charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and speeding, and he was booked into the Fulton County Jail. TheGrio reported that, according to the arrest warrant, officers asked Dunford whether they could download data from his vehicle's event data recorder, and that he agreed after first calling his lawyer.

Dunford has been charged but not convicted. He is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. His age and any statement from his attorney had not been reported in the sources reviewed for this article.

What Police and the University Have Said

Atlanta police said speed was a factor and that the investigation remains ongoing. The department has not released additional details beyond the charges and the estimated speed.

Clark Atlanta University shared a statement of condolences, saying, "The loss of a member of our University community is deeply felt." The university asked the public to respect the family's privacy and set up counseling and support hours for students on campus. April Lundy, interim chair of Mass Media Arts, told FOX 5 Atlanta that she "was numb" when she learned of Gamble's death.

What the Family Is Asking For

Gamble's parents have struggled to understand how the crash could happen on a neighborhood street. "I can't imagine how you can drive 95 miles an hour in such a residential 35-mile-per-hour zone," her father, George Gamble, told WSB-TV. Her mother called the loss "senseless" and said the driver "deserves whatever it is justice will give him."

Family members, friends and students who live near the intersection are asking the city for speed bumps, more stop signs or a traffic light at Hank Aaron Drive and Glen Street. One neighbor told Atlanta News First he has seen and heard multiple crashes at that intersection. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the city had not publicly responded. The family is also planning a media scholarship in Gamble's name.

What Happens Next

CBS News Atlanta reported that Dunford was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, October 15. Bond information had not been reported. The case will move through the Fulton County courts, where prosecutors will decide whether to seek an indictment on the charges filed by police.

Timeline of the Morgan Gamble Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Morgan Gamble?

She was a 21-year-old Mass Media Arts senior at Clark Atlanta University who had worked as a student production assistant on Netflix's A Different World sequel.

How fast was the driver going?

Atlanta police said the driver was traveling about 94 mph. News outlets reported the speed limit at the intersection as 30 or 35 mph.

What is Nikolai Dunford charged with?

First-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and speeding. He has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.

What changes is the family asking for?

The family and nearby students want speed bumps, more stop signs or a traffic light at Hank Aaron Drive and Glen Street.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• CBS News Atlanta: Driver charged with vehicular homicide in Clark Atlanta student's death
• Atlanta News First: Family of Clark Atlanta student speaks after crash
• WSB-TV: Family remembers Clark Atlanta student Morgan Gamble
• FOX 5 Atlanta: Clark Atlanta University mourns student killed in Hank Aaron Drive crash
• TheGrio: Clark Atlanta senior Morgan Gamble dies in crash