3 High School Footballers Dead and Woman, 21, Left in ‘Critical Condition’ After Car Smashes into Telephone Pole

Three high school students are dead and a woman is in a critical condition after the vehicle they were traveling in crashed in North Carolina.

At around 7:22 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Oct. 8, officers and emergency medical personnel responded to reports of a single vehicle crash on the 2700 block of Rosehill Road in Fayetteville, said the Fayetteville Police Department in a news release.

A 2024 Honda Civic, occupied by four individuals, had run off the road and struck a telephone pole before going down a pathway and colliding with a tree, WRAL News reported, citing police.

“Three occupants succumbed to their injuries on scene and one occupant was airlifted to UNC Chapel Hill in critical condition,” per the police news release.

In a statement on Thursday, Cumberland County Schools identified the deceased high school seniors as Jai’hyon Elliott, Trevor Merritt and Nicholas Williams.

Elliot was 18, while Merritt and Williams were both 17, according to ABC 11. The trio were members of the Golden Bulls Football Team.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Dymond Monroe, per ABC 11 and WRAL News. The army veteran, 21, who is the mother of a 7-month-old girl, is currently in a critical condition.

Friends have alleged that the students were on their way to Monroe’s brother’s 18th birthday when the crash occurred.

“The Cumberland County Board of Education extends its deepest condolences following the loss of three E.E. Smith High School seniors—young men whose energy, potential and friendships made a lasting mark on their school and community,” said The Cumberland County Board of Education in a statement obtained by ABC 11. “Our hearts ache for their families and school community who are walking through this unimaginable time.”

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CCS Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy also expressed his condolences following the tragedy.

“Today, our Cumberland County Schools family is heartbroken. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three young men from E.E. Smith High School who passed away yesterday,” Bracy said in a statement, per ABC 11. “All three were members of the Golden Bulls Football Team and were students, teammates and friends whose presence left a lasting impact on those around them.”

The incident is being investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department’s Traffic Unit. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer C. Lewis at (910) 818-1872.

The Fayetteville Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment on Friday, Oct. 11.