A memorial is being erected outside a Cleveland County high school after tragedy struck the community.
Police said Wednesday that two students were killed and another seriously injured in an accident in front of Burns High School.
“We just came out because I couldn’t stop crying.”
Tears at Burns High School, one day after two students died in an accident outside the Lawndale campus. A passenger in the two’s car is in the hospital. Some students left class and laid flowers and balloons at the scene of the accident. pic.twitter.com/mvYSFhpCuS– Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) 19 September 2024
The victims were all related, investigators said. Investigators said 17-year-old Dequavious Hopper and 14-year-old Jaelyn Abraham were killed in the crash. The third teen, who was in the passenger seat, was taken to Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby and is in critical condition, cops said.
Investigators said Hopper ignored the right of way and attempted to turn left in front of a truck, causing the two vehicles to collide at the intersection.
PREVIOUS: 2 students killed, 1 injured in crash near high school, authorities say
Channel 9’s Ken Lemon spoke with the 17-year-old driver’s family at their home, three minutes from the crash scene. The teens were home shortly before the crash.
Hopper’s family held the cap and gown he would have worn at graduation in June. They stopped at the scene of the crash Thursday afternoon and cried as they saw the memorial for the victims. Some Burns High students said they left school and erected the memorial because they couldn’t stay inside, knowing their friends wouldn’t come back.
“Pretty sad,” Connor Williams said to Lemon, wiping tears from his eyes.
Williams went to school on Thursday, but stayed only for the first two periods. The grief was overwhelming.
“We just came out because I couldn’t stop crying,” he said.
Williams knew all three students involved in the accident. He told Lemon that he grew up next to Hopper and Abraham.
Williams and other students who knew the teenagers had to drive past the accident scene on their way to school Thursday morning, reopening wounds for some before they got to class.
“It’s just sad to know that the people you cared about and loved died right here,” Peyton Williams said.
Others who left class early went to the scene of the accident with flowers and balloons, hoping to place something beautiful next to the paint that surrounded the tragic accident site.
“So we remember them,” said Zykia Perkins.
“It breaks my heart for the family and everyone else,” said Tayla Tessneer.
One of the students said she wanted to show the memorial to her friend who is still in the hospital.
“I hope he knows we are all praying for him,” Ruth Chavez said.
One student said a teacher had placed a plant on the desk of one of the two deceased teenagers. A student in that class said every time he looked at the plant, he started to cry.
Police say they will not press charges in this accident because they do not believe the other driver was at fault.
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