YORK COUNTY, Va. — Members of the Tabb community and others were at Tabb High School Sunday night to remember three students who died in a car crash near the school on Saturday.
Virginia State Police troopers said three 16-year-old boys died in the crash on Yorktown Road. The York County School Division said the teenagers were students at Tabb High School.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya said one of the boys was driving a 2015 BMW 325i westbound on Yorktown Road east of Cardinal Lane when he lost control of the car. The car ran off the road and overturned on its roof.
The driver and his front-seat passenger and back seat passenger died there.
All three boys were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. It isn't known yet if alcohol was a factor, police said.
Neighbor Joseph Emerson said the crash happened right beside his home and that he called 911.
"I heard a big boom, and I rushed out. I saw the light flashing and smoke billowing, but I didn't hear anyone, I told the dispatcher no one is responding to me and by that point, the fire and rescue squad from around the corner came,” said Emerson.
Tabb High School held its homecoming dance Saturday night, and several people on Facebook said the boys had left the dance right before the crash. One of the boys was on the football team.
People and groups shared their remembrances of him and the other students on Facebook. They also expressed their condolences to the teenagers' families. Many, including the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, posted a picture that says "Pray for Tabb."
Friends and family created a memorial in honor of the three boys at the scene of the crash. Emerson said that seeing people come to the memorial was gut-wrenching.
"A couple family members came by. That's when it really started to hit. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are beginning to process. It's a strong, tight-knit community, and I also know that they are going to have to rely on each other's strength to process,” said Emerson.
Katherine Goff, the spokeswoman for the school division, said additional people would be at Tabb High on Monday to support students and staff.
Superintendent Dr. Victor Shandor released a statement:
"I am terribly saddened by the loss of these three young men. On behalf of everyone here in the York County School Division and our community, I want to express our heartfelt sympathies for the families affected by this tragedy. Division staff are working closely with Mr. Rice and school administrators to provide support and resources for our students, staff and school community."
Students are saying on social media that they plan to wear orange and white to school on Monday in remembrance of the teens.
Vigil for Tabb High School Students Killed in Crash
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