People in one Middle Georgia community are still coming to terms with a tragic accident that killed four people last Wednesday on Interstate 16 in Laurens County. However, Fred Houston of Laurens County won't be forgetting two of them anytime soon.

"You ask yourself, why them because you know they were good people and it hurt at first,” Houston said.

Houston lost two his friends of more than 20 years, Clayton and Josephine Warnock. The Dublin couple were traveling on I-16 to go to a doctor's appointment in Atlanta when they got involved in the 27 vehicle pile - up. The couple's family declined to speak, instead asking friends like Houston to speak on their behalf.

"It was tragic, but as they've gotten through a couple of days and with visitation by friends and prayers, they're feeling really good about it now," he said.

The accident happened early in the morning around mile marker 37. Department of Transportation crews have been repaving the right westbound lanes during the last two days. On Sunday, traffic was flowing freely. All that remains is debris and a broken fence. While the road seems to be fixed, Houston said he's still waiting for answers.

"It'll be six to eight months before clarification on what happened actually comes out, so they're not elaborating on what happened there," he said.

In the meantime, Houston said the community will be mourning the loss of a couple who was always there to lend a helping hand.

"They will be dearly missed by all of their friends and their church family, and their immediate blood family. The community is at a great loss for losing them."

The funeral for Clayton and Josephine Warnock will be on Tuesday at Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Dublin.