RAMSEUR, N.C. — A fatal crash involving four Eastern Randolph High School students resulted in the death of two teenagers, according to NC State Highway Patrol. The other two are suffering from serious injuries.
The single-vehicle crash happened on Thursday at 6:25 at the intersection of Parks Crossroads Church Road and Kildee Church Road in Ramseur.
Troopers pronounced 15-year-old Mario Lara, a passenger in the car, dead at the scene. The driver, 17-year-old Tyler George Franklin, was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
Highway Patrol said Franklin was going west on Kildee Church Road in an Infiniti passenger car when he traveled off the road to the right, overcorrected, and ended up hitting a tree. The vehicle caught fire after the crash.
Master Trooper Brian Martin said all occupants were wearing seatbelts during the crash. The other two occupants, 16-year-old Macie Maness and another female passenger, exited the car before it caught fire.
Investigators said excessive speed was a factor in the crash.
Emergency services said it received two 911 calls from iPhone crash notifications within the car, which allowed first responders to ping the location and get to the scene.
A third 911 call came in from a citizen, who detailed just how bad this crash was.
"Single vehicle, on fire, at least three patients," the caller said.
"Is anybody still in the vehicle?" The dispatcher is heard asking.
"I think so. I think there is one still in the vehicle, and it is on fire. One's laying in the ditch. One's in the road," the caller responded.
Randolph County Schools said additional counselors will be available to students at Eastern Randolph High during this time.
The school system shared the following statement:
"Four students from Eastern Randolph High School were involved in a very serious car accident last night. These students are very special members of the student body at Eastern Randolph High School as well as the Randolph County School System. The leadership of the school system will keep these students and their families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Additional counselors will be on the campus of Eastern Randolph High School today to provide support for students and staff members. The additional counselors also will be on the school's campus next week to provide support for students and staff members as needed."