CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two Charlotte high school students died and another person was hurt in a crash at the intersection of Old Pineville Road and Tyvola Road on Friday morning, officials said.
The crash happened shortly before 7 a.m. and appeared to involve a tractor-trailer and at least one other vehicle. Multiple agencies responded to the crash, including Medic, Charlotte Fire and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.
Later in the afternoon, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed to WCNC Charlotte the two people who died were students at South Mecklenburg High School. A message from principal Mark Angerer sent to parents identified them as Kaia Hodge and Jada Cousins, both seniors.
Angerer's message said grief counseling would be available for students and faculty who needed it and encouraged those grieving to take time to process the loss of both students.
The full message follows:
Good Afternoon, South Mecklenburg High School Families, this is Principal Angerer. It is with great sadness that I share news about the deaths of two of our students. Seniors Kaia Hodge and Jada Cousins were involved in a fatal car accident Friday morning. We are heartbroken by this loss and grieve with Kaia and Jada’s family and friends.
This type of sudden loss is difficult to process, and oftentimes we experience physical, mental and emotional reactions. Please take the time you need to process your feelings and remember to care for and support each other during this difficult time.
We are here for you. Grief counseling services are available for any student or staff member who may need support. We will have support in the “E” cafeteria on Monday morning.
We extend our sincere condolences to Kaia and Jada’s families, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts as well.
Tyvola Road was closed for hours while crews worked to clear the crash and investigated what happened. Tyvola was closed between South Boulevard and Interstate 77, but roads were later reopened.
The preliminary investigation has found Hodge was driving south on Old Pineville Road when she collided with the semi-truck as it was attempting to turn onto Tyvola Road. The investigation is still active at this time; anyone with information is asked to call CMPD's Detective Sessoms at 704-432-2169, Ext. 3.
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you're ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.