WANE) – Police have released the names of the DeKalb High School football players involved in the accident that left one of the players dead, and the other in critical condition.
The crash occurred on Friday at 4 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 40. The intersection is approximately 6 miles from Dekalb High School.
Police said Derek Padilla, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene and Lucas Oberkiser, 16, was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Witnesses told police a VW Passat, driven by Padilla, was traveling eastbound on CR 40 when he proceeded into the intersection at CR 19 in front of a Jeep Cherokee.
The Cherokee hit the Padilla’s car broadside, which sent his car into a Hyundai Elantra headed northbound. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passengers in the Elantra were not hurt.
The driver of the Jeep Cherokee was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passengers in the Elantra were not hurt.
Medics on the scene performed CPR on Oberkiser. He was then transported to the hospital and listed in critical condition.
Padilla was a star running back and starter for the DeKalb football team. Oberkiser also started for the team playing defensive tackle.
The New Haven and DeKalb football game that has been scheduled for Friday evening was canceled. The school has made counselors available for students who need help dealing with the tragedy.
Students and friends have been posting their condolences and expressing their sadness on social media sites using the hashtag #PrayForDeKalb.