Friday's Internet Edition, August 29, 2008.
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| A TEEN-AGER peers into the overturned car in which two youths were killed on Sikes Road, just off Boys Ranch Road south of Copperas Cove. The pair were students at S.C. Lee Junior High until earlier this year. – Photo by KRISTAN HALL |
News editor - Two teen-aged boys died Sunday as a result of a car accident 5.3 southwest of Copperas Cove in Bell County.
Melvin Jermaine Hayden, 13, was driving a 1999 Chevy Trailblazer on Sikes Road Sunday at 1:38 p.m. when the vehicle drifted off the roadway. Hayden overcorrected to the right and lost control of the SUV. The vehicle rolled over three times before striking a large tree.
Hayden and a passenger, Zachary Richmond, also 13, were both ejected and suffered multiple injuries.
The posted speed on Sikes is 25 miles per hour and the Lampasas office of the Department of Public Saftey reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred.
A delivery person who had just knocked on the door of the house he was delivering to said he heard a loud roaring noise, like that of a revving car engine and looked up Sikes in time to see the vehicle go airborne.
Both he and the woman he was delivering to ran to help, he said, as did several other neighbors. He said one neighbor called 911, another put out the fire that started in the Trailblazer and a third, a nurse, gave medical care to one of the boys.
“I’ve spent 20 years in the military and done things with squads that require teamwork. I’m amazed at the teamwork those neighbors showed,” said the witness, who asked not to be named.
He said the ambulance from Copperas Cove arrived within five minutes. Helicopters were called for to provide for emergency air transport but were unable to pinpoint an exact location when flying overhead.
That’s when another neighbor, a helicopter pilot, pulled out her own equipment to help provide assistance in directing the copters to secure landing spots, the witness said.
Both teens were flown to Scott and White Hospital in Temple, where they were later pronounced dead.
The two boys were students at S.C. Lee Junior High School in Cove until earlier this year. Hayden withdrew on Feb. 13 to be home schooled, while Richmond withdrew Feb. 30 to attend school in Lampasas.
The junior high has called out its Crisis Response Team in an effect to help students grieving over the teens’ death. The team was activated immediately Monday morning, said Dr. Rose Cameron, administrative assistant to the CCISD superintendent.
Five counselors set up a room for those students who were too upset to go to class, she said.
Funeral services for Richmond will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Clear Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Thomas Edwards will officiate at the ceremony. Interment will be at Clear Creek Cemetery.
Richmond was the son of Diane and Mark Richmond of Kempner. He enjoyed outdoor sports, especially hunting, fishing and four-wheeling.
Zachary is survived by his parents; a sister, Destiney Blair Richmond; paternal grandparents Audrey and Allan Cornelius; Segundo and Katharina Cortez of Kempner; and great-grandmother Verna Kemp of Florida.
Funeral services for Hayden will be held Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at the Clear Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Thomas Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at the Clear Creek Baptist Church Cemetary.
Hayden was born on Oct. 29, 1989, in Fort Hood to Margot and George E. Hayden Sr. He was a member of the Copperas Cove Golf Club and a volunteer with the Copperas Cove Saddle Club. He played basketball, football and baseball at S.C. Lee Junior High. He also participated in track.
Hayden is survived by his parents; five brothers, Curtis Hayden, Matthew Reynolds, Sean Reynolds, Perry Hayden and George Hayden and various aunts and uncles.
Visitation is scheduled for April 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Crawford Bowers Chapel. Crawford Bowers Funeral Home of Copperas Cove is in charge of the arrangements for both boys.
Rumors that the teens’ parents will be charged with negligence are not substantiated, said Doug West, chief deputy sheriff for Coryell County.
West said it appears that the teens took the vehicle without their parents’ knowledge or blessing. He said David Poston of the Department of Public Safety would decide if charges should be filed and Poston has told him he is not interested in filing charges.