Highway patrol: Speed was a factor

ALBEMARLE, N.C. -- Three Albemarle High School students were killed in a two-car collision just before midnight, according to a spokesperson for Stanly County Schools.

The crash happened on N.C. 138 near Kimrey Road south of Albemarle late Thursday night.

Tevis Swaringen, Justin Cowen and Andrico Lilly -- all 17 years old -- died at the scene.The three students were all rising seniors. Swaringen played on the football team, and Cowen is a former player.

"This team is a rally type team, they will rally around this," football coach Baxter Morris said. "I’m sure they will have their own way of remembering these players and former players."

Highway patrol officers say Swaringen was driving one of the cars, with Cowen, Lilly and Deangelo Martin as passengers. Martin, who is not a student, was taken to Carolinas Medical Center where he is in stable but critical condition.

The driver of the other vehicle, 16-year-old Matthew Rinehardt, was unharmed.

The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and says speed may have been a factor. They

estimate the car with all the victims was traveling 80 to 85 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. They say Swaringen came into a curve too fast and over-corrected, crossing the center line on N.C. 138. A pickup truck T-boned the passenger side of the car.

Troopers say alcohol was not a factor.

The school district sent crisis teams to summer school classes to help students cope with their grief.

"We go out we set up students who are having issues or problems dealing with this try and help them through these problems," said Todd Thorpe with Stanly County Schools.

The start of school is still several weeks away. Educators say they will monitor students when they return and additional counseling will be provided as needed.

(WCNC's Glenn Counts contributed to this report.)