MINT HILL, N.C. — A high school student has died and two others are seriously injured after a crash in Mint Hill, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district confirmed.
It happened Monday morning near the intersection of Blair Road and Allen Station Drive, about a mile away from Rocky River High School.
CMS released the name of the student who was killed in the crash, as 18-year-old Jovany Escamilla-Salinas. A spokesperson said he played for the high school soccer team.
“That is a very hard pill to swallow, so my prayers go out to the family,” Erica Crawford said.
The two other students were taken to an area hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries, according to Mecklenburg EMS. Officials have not provided further details about the crash, but the crash seemed to involve a tanker truck.
Many parents said the stretch of road leading up to the school wasn't always safe.
"I’m really afraid to let her drive out here," CMS parent Joyce Griffin said.
“It should give students a wakeup call, go within the speed limit, no speeding and driving recklessly," Crawford said.
The following message was shared with the Rocky River High School community:
Rocky River High School families, this is Principal LeGrand with an important message.
Three of our students were involved in a car accident this morning. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that one of our students died and the other two suffered serious injuries. We are heartbroken by this loss of life, and we grieve with the family and friends of our student. Our thoughts are prayers with the families and friends of all three students.
Sudden death and life-threatening injuries can be difficult for us to understand, especially with young people. We may feel a variety of emotions: shock, sadness, or confusion. What is most important is that we care for and support each other. The Crisis Response Team has made plans to respond to the emotional needs of all students. Counselors will be highly visible throughout the building and available to assist with grief counseling.
If your family has experienced a death or similar loss recently, this accident may bring up strong feelings. While this may be a normal experience, we want to provide assistance if needed. Please make your student's teacher or our counselors aware if there is any additional information the school should be aware of so we can provide the support your student needs. This difficult time can be stressful and confusing. A sudden death may be disturbing to you as well as to your student. It is for this reason that we especially want you to know of our care and support.
Thank you for your continued support of Rocky River High School.
“I was in shock, I was just sad a little bit, even though I didn’t know them, it's still sad," CMS student Aaliyah Catlin said.
“As a parent, it didn’t sit well, and this was probably her first experience with these kinds of things, so we’re going to talk about it at home and say, this is how life goes sometimes," CMS parent Eddie Catlin said.
CMS said the two other students involved in the crash are 16 years old and 17 years old. They remain in critical condition as of Monday afternoon.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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