Three Alabama high school cheerleaders killed in horrific car accident on Christmas Day, families devastated
GENEVA, ALABAMA: Three cheerleaders from Geneva High School in Alabama were killed and the two of their classmates injured in a horrific car crash on Christmas night.
The accident took place when the vehicle they were traveling in went off Westville Avenue and crashed into a wooded area, according to WTVY.
The fatalities included Cassidy Dunn, Emilee Fain, and Addyson Martin — all of whom were either sophomore on in their junior year at the high school. All the three 16-year-olds were sitting in the front seat of the car when the crash took place.
A couple of other girls suffered serious injuries and one of them was admitted to a Birmingham hospital because of the severity of her injuries.
Authorities told AL.com that around 6 pm on December 25, the driver of the car topped a hill, lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree. "We're not sure for what reason they lost control, but it hit a big oak tree," said Lt. Michael McDuffie, a spokesman for the Geneva Police Department.
"It could have been a deer ran out in front of them." The occupants of the vehicle had to be extricated from the wrecked car.
According to Geneva County Coroner Donny Adkinson, all the five girls had attended a Christmas gettogether at someone's house before heading elsewhere.
Apart from being in the cheerleading team of their school, the victims were also into other community activities including volleyball. "These young ladies were very active in the school," McDuffie said.
"It's a tremendous loss for the community. We're just asking for prayers for the families and the first responders." Geneva City Schools Superintendent Ron Snell released the following statement regarding the tragedy.
"We are all deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our three exceptional students. There are no words to express the sense of loss that our community is experiencing this morning. Geneva is a close-knit community. When one hurts, we all hurt."
"The goal today is for our students and our community to have an opportunity to cry, talk, pray and find comfort together. Moving forward we will rally around the families, but for now, we need time to mourn together," the statement added.