2 students die, 2 injured in crash
Kat Russell, Photojournalist
Kentucky New Era
March 24, 2014
http://www.kentuckynewera.com/web/news/article_bf7a2304-b30b-11e3-aeda-0019bb2963f4.html
Photo Provided By LEX 18
Two Christian County High School students have died following a crash that also injured two of their classmates Friday on the Bluegrass Parkway.
The students, all junior boys, were on their way home from the Boys Sweet 16 state basketball tournament in Lexington, where local fans had traveled to watch the Hopkinsville High School team.
Dequavius Weaver, 16, died at the scene in Anderson County. Coroner Dr. Mark Tussey said the student who died at the scene had been in the rear passenger seat of a double-cab Nissan pickup truck.
Kentucky State Police said the pickup left the parkway and hit the rear of a Freightliner tractor-trailer parked on the westbound shoulder.
Jacob Blankenship, 17, was flown in a helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where he later died, according to the KSP report.
The other boys in the pickup, Dendrick Holmes and Josh Harbold, both 16, were taken to the UK hospital by ambulance. Harbold remained hospitalized Sunday. Holmes, the driver, was released from the hospital and returned home over the weekend.
State police said the wreck occurred at 5:50 p.m.
Tussey, the coroner, said he interviewed witnesses of the crash.
“The truck did not appear to be swerving or driving recklessly, but as the pickup truck approached the tractor-trailer on the shoulder it either drifted or turned abruptly — we’re not sure about that, we’ll know more when we get the accident reconstruction done. But it either drifted or turned into the path of the parked tractor-trailer,” he said.
Tussey also said a KSP accident reconstruction team downloaded the data recorder stored in the truck’s onboard computer to get more information.
Based on his preliminary investigation, Tussey said he did not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the wreck.
School officials worked over the weekend to plan how they would help students returning to CCHS today. Principal Michael Stevenson and Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill expressed their condolences.
“We want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to parents, relatives, classmates and staff members of our four students tragically involved in last night’s accident. We were saddened to receive the news that two of our students have passed,” they said in a joint statement released Saturday.
They added that “a support team of counselors, social workers and psychologists from Christian County Schools (is) making plans to work with our staff and students to provide counseling and support in the days and weeks ahead.”
Second Baptist Church had an outdoor candlelight vigil Sunday night for anyone who knew the boys. About 100 people attended. During the service, prayers were offered for each of the boys and their families.
Chuck Poe, minister for youth and families at Second Baptist Church, said he knew Weaver and Harbold well.
“Dequavius was just a great guy,” he said. “He was the most respectful young man I have ever met. His smile would light up a room, and he knew no stranger. I’m just glad that I got to know him.”
Poe said he had spoken to Harbold and his family and that he was in “a lot of pain” after having abdominal surgery, but that he was recovering.
The church also opened Friday evening for anyone who wanted to pray for the families.
Harbold, Holmes and Weaver played varsity football at their school this year, and Blankenship played on the varsity soccer team.
Soccer Coach Clint Willis said Blankenship was a talented and creative player. He had hoped Blankenship would be a leader for next year’s team.
“He was an amazing kid,” Willis said. “He was very soft spoken and he was very meticulous in his work. He always showed up early to practice and stayed late.”
Willis described Blankenship as being respectful and responsible and “always having a smile on his face.”
Blankenship’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lamb Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are pending for Weaver.
The students, all junior boys, were on their way home from the Boys Sweet 16 state basketball tournament in Lexington, where local fans had traveled to watch the Hopkinsville High School team.
Dequavius Weaver, 16, died at the scene in Anderson County. Coroner Dr. Mark Tussey said the student who died at the scene had been in the rear passenger seat of a double-cab Nissan pickup truck.
Kentucky State Police said the pickup left the parkway and hit the rear of a Freightliner tractor-trailer parked on the westbound shoulder.
Jacob Blankenship, 17, was flown in a helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where he later died, according to the KSP report.
The other boys in the pickup, Dendrick Holmes and Josh Harbold, both 16, were taken to the UK hospital by ambulance. Harbold remained hospitalized Sunday. Holmes, the driver, was released from the hospital and returned home over the weekend.
State police said the wreck occurred at 5:50 p.m.
Tussey, the coroner, said he interviewed witnesses of the crash.
“The truck did not appear to be swerving or driving recklessly, but as the pickup truck approached the tractor-trailer on the shoulder it either drifted or turned abruptly — we’re not sure about that, we’ll know more when we get the accident reconstruction done. But it either drifted or turned into the path of the parked tractor-trailer,” he said.
Tussey also said a KSP accident reconstruction team downloaded the data recorder stored in the truck’s onboard computer to get more information.
Based on his preliminary investigation, Tussey said he did not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the wreck.
School officials worked over the weekend to plan how they would help students returning to CCHS today. Principal Michael Stevenson and Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill expressed their condolences.
“We want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to parents, relatives, classmates and staff members of our four students tragically involved in last night’s accident. We were saddened to receive the news that two of our students have passed,” they said in a joint statement released Saturday.
They added that “a support team of counselors, social workers and psychologists from Christian County Schools (is) making plans to work with our staff and students to provide counseling and support in the days and weeks ahead.”
Second Baptist Church had an outdoor candlelight vigil Sunday night for anyone who knew the boys. About 100 people attended. During the service, prayers were offered for each of the boys and their families.
Chuck Poe, minister for youth and families at Second Baptist Church, said he knew Weaver and Harbold well.
“Dequavius was just a great guy,” he said. “He was the most respectful young man I have ever met. His smile would light up a room, and he knew no stranger. I’m just glad that I got to know him.”
Poe said he had spoken to Harbold and his family and that he was in “a lot of pain” after having abdominal surgery, but that he was recovering.
The church also opened Friday evening for anyone who wanted to pray for the families.
Harbold, Holmes and Weaver played varsity football at their school this year, and Blankenship played on the varsity soccer team.
Soccer Coach Clint Willis said Blankenship was a talented and creative player. He had hoped Blankenship would be a leader for next year’s team.
“He was an amazing kid,” Willis said. “He was very soft spoken and he was very meticulous in his work. He always showed up early to practice and stayed late.”
Willis described Blankenship as being respectful and responsible and “always having a smile on his face.”
Blankenship’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lamb Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are pending for Weaver.
