Bryant High School students identified as teens killed in Saturday night crash
Grief counselors have been available for students and teachers this week at Paul W. Bryant High School after a Saturday night wreck that killed two teenagers.
Elijah Clark, 17 and Mariyae Gulley, 17 of Bryant High School in Cottondale, died Saturday, according to officials with the Tuscaloosa City Schools system. State troopers said a single-vehicle crash occurred around 10:25 p.m. on Alabama Highway 69 that left two teens dead and two other teens injured.
According to troopers, four juveniles were occupying the 2005 Nissan Maxima when the car left the roadway and struck a ditch. The driver, a 17-year-old from Vance was fatally injured in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
More: Second teen dies after Saturday night crash in Tuscaloosa County
On Monday, troopers said that a passenger in the car, a 17-year-old from Tuscaloosa, died of injuries sustained in the crash after being taken to an area hospital.
Two other passengers, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old who are both from Tuscaloosa, are being treated at area hospitals for their injuries.
Troopers said none of the teens wore seat belts at the time of the crash.
An investigation into the crash is being handled by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Highway Patrol Division.
Although troopers did not identify the two juveniles, Lydia Avant, a spokeswoman for Tuscaloosa City Schools, said that Gulley and Clark were both students at Bryant High.
"Two Paul W. Bryant High School seniors died Saturday in a car accident on Highway 69 South, Elijah Clark and Mariyae Gulley," Avant said in a statement Monday.
Avant said counselors and social workers will be available this week at Bryant High to assist students.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss and our thoughts are with the students' families and friends. This is a difficult time for our students, faculty, and staff. We have counselors and social workers at the school today to help students cope with this tragedy. We will continue to have counselors available to help our students in the coming days. Teachers and staff will have access to our Employee Assistance Program. We send our deepest sympathies to the families involved and ask that their privacy is respected during this difficult time," she said.
Administrators at Bryant High offered condolences through social media.
The Bryant High School Facebook page said, "As a Stampede family, we send our sympathies, prayers, and condolences to the families and friends of PWBHS students, Elijah Clark & Mariyae Gulley. We honor their memory with you."
Eric Hines, the principal at Bryant High, paid tribute to Gulley and Clark in a Facebook post Monday morning.
"Elijah and Mariyae were not just students; they were bright, spirited individuals who brought joy and positivity to our school every day. Their absence will be profoundly felt by their classmates, teachers, and all who had the privilege of knowing them," Hines said.
"We extend our deepest condolences to their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are here to offer our support in any way we can," he said.
Mayor Walt Maddox also expressed his condolences on Monday in a social media post.
"Our prayers are with the students, faculty and team members of Bryant High School in the passing of two of their students. Our prayers are with the families as well. No parent should ever have to experience this type of pain. May God’s peace provide some measure of comfort to all who are hurting," Maddox said.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Two Bryant High School students killed in crash in Tuscaloosa County
