Three recently-graduated high schoolers and a 16-year-old student were killed in a tragic single-car crash along a South Pittsburg highway early Saturday.
Police identified the victims as Johnathan Allen, 20, Jayven Martin, 22, and Sayveon Martin, 20 in addition to the minor Jailyn Pellam.
A 17-year-old victim, who was the only one to wear a seatbelt, survived the deadly crash but was listed in critical condition.
Marion County Superintendent Mark Griffith said that the young victims were traveling eastbound in a 2010 Toyota Camry when they crossed the median while negotiating a curve.
At around 1:40 a.m. CDT, Allen lost control of the car that went out of the roadway, striking a tree.
“As superintendent for 16 years, I’ve had to deal with tragedies like this, but never to this magnitude,” Griffith added.
