A community is mourning today after a brother and sister were killed in a crash on their way home from high school soccer practice.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Peyton Christopher Spain, 17, and Erin Ashley Spain, 15. Both were students at Hueytown High School and were on the school’s competitive soccer teams.
“They were very, very sweet, popular kids,” principal Gayle Gober told AL.com this morning. “It’s a tragic time for us. The students understandably are very upset.”
The crash happened about 5:30 p.m. Monday near the Rock Creek Road bridge. Authorities said Peyton was driving, and Erin was in the passenger’s seat. They were traveling northbound on Rock Creek Road in a Nissan Altima when the car left the roadway. The roads were wet, but authorities aren’t yet sure if weather was a factor.
The car came back onto the road and crossed over into the southbound lane of the two-lane road. It was sideways in the road when it was struck by an oncoming Nissan Pathfinder.
Erin was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:32 p.m. Peyton was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m. Both attended First Baptist Church of Pleasant Grove where they were active in the youth group. The church posted this on their Facebook page:
“FBCPG is saddened by the news that Peyton and Erin, two beautiful children of God, were called home last night. These two will be greatly missed by the community, the church, family and friends. Please be in prayer for the father of these two children and for the rest of the family. Please pray for God’s strength and grace in the upcoming days Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. ”
Gober said Erin was in the 9th grade and Peyton in the 10th grade. They both played competitive soccer for the high school and were on their way home from afternoon practice when they were killed.
Gober said the news traveled quickly. School officials have counselors in the school today, as well as several area youth pastors who came into the help. The counselors are going to each one of Erin and Peyton’s classes, following their schedules, to meet with those students. The school also has a counseling area set up in the library, where students can go anytime they want throughout the day.
School officials and counselors met separately this morning with the teammates of Erin and Peyton. “Everyone seemed to love them,” Gober said. “We were glad they were a part of our student body and they will be missed.”
An online fundraising account has been established to help with funeral expenses.
“It’s just a tragic day for us,” she said. “Helping our students cope with it is our primary focus today.”
