Six high school girls were killed in a crash Tuesday in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, after their four-seat car collided with a large truck carrying rocks during their lunch break, according to authorities.
The car’s driver and the person in the passenger seat were the only people in the car wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, located 120 miles north of Dallas, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported Wednesday. All six girls were between the ages of 15 and 17.
Bobby Waitman, the superintendent for Tishomingo County school district, said the loss of the students was felt by the whole community.
“We love all of our students,” Waitman told the Associated Press. “We’re experiencing this loss with them.”
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The six girls were identified by friends and family as Gracie Machado, Brooklyn Triplett, Austin Holt, Madison Robertson, Addison Gratz, and Memory Wilson, the Daily Mail reported. Triplett is remembered as “an amazing kid” who “loved her family and friends wholeheartedly,” a tribute on a GoFundMe campaign for her family reads.
The driver of the truck, 51-year-old Valendon Burton of Burneyville, was not injured in the crash. Highway Patrol said the cause of the crash is still being investigated.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt sent his condolences to the families of the victims and said he and his wife would be praying for the girls.
“Psalm 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,'” Stitt tweeted. “Today is a sad day in Oklahoma. Sarah and I are mourning the six young lives lost today and praying for their families.”
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Funeral arrangements are still being organized. The school district is working on a memorial service on campus so students can honor their classmates. Counseling will also be available.
