3 students among 4 dead in crash

LUMBERTON — Three Robeson County students were among four people killed in a head-on collision with a Robeson County school bus this morning, according to the state Highway Patrol.

The car’s driver, 16-year-old Kadaufei Worley, of Lumberton; and its passengers, 18-year-old Tylek McNair, of Fairmont; 15-year-old Daylon Cummings, of Rowland; and Kashawn Leonard, of Fairmont, 19, were killed, according to Lt. Jeff Gordon, Public Information officer for the state Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on Wire Grass Road near the Smyrna Volunteer Fire Department. The bus was not carrying any students, but a mechanic driving it to a maintenance shop for work suffered internal and spinal injuries, according to Tasha Oxendine, Public Relations officer for the Public Schools of Robeson County. Kinyata Locklear, 36, of Maxton, was set to be released from Southeastern Regional Medical Center this evening, according to 1st Sgt. Ardeen Hunt, with the state Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol had reported earlier that Locklear was transferred to Duke University Hospital.

Worley and Cummings were both basketball players at South Robeson High School, according to Oxendine. Cummings was in the ninth grade and Worley’s grade was not immediately available.

McNair was a senior at Fairmont High School and a football player. Leonard graduated last year from Fairmont High School, where he played football and basketball.

“We’re deeply saddened about the loss of three of our students and our former student that graduated last year,” Oxendine said. “It’s a tragedy for us and such a great loss for the community as well as the district. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and their friends and to all of our students who were close to them.”

Gordon said that early reports that the car was being chased by Robeson County deputies were false.

Gordon said before the crash, someone had called authorities to report a suspicious vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the wreck and carrying four passengers. The caller then followed the 2000 Nissan Maxima while still on the phone with 911. A deputy sent to investigate pulled up behind the caller’s vehicle and the Maxima sped away, crossing the center line of the road at a speed of at least 80 mph, Gordon said.

“As the deputy and caller rounded a slight curve, they observed the remnants of the collision between the Maxima and school bus,” Gordon said in a statement.

Gordon told reporters the three passengers was ejected while Worley remained secured by a seat belt. Gordon said the damage was too extensive to determine if the passengers were wearing seat belts.

“The car was basically in at least two pieces,” he said.

Gordon said there are no contributing factors suspected beyond speed and crossing the center line. He said a team over the next four to six weeks will reconstruct the accident to determine what occurred.

The accident postponed the start of basketball season within the county. South Robeson High School was scheduled to start the season Tuesday night at home against Purnell Swett, but the game was postponed until a later date.

“We will play it, just not tomorrow,” said Purnell Swett High Athletics Director Jerome Hunt.

It’s the second deadly wreck involving Robeson County athletes in the last three months. Three Robeson residents, including two former high school football players, were killed in a wreck in Dillon, South Carolina, on Aug. 24.

Counselors were available to students and staff at both South Robeson High School and Fairmont High School today and will continue to offer counseling services through the end of the week, Oxendine said.