Decatur High School student Sophia Christensen was one of the victims identified in a fatal car accident Monday, June 16. Christensen was a standout track and field athlete and cross country runner who was also involved in Decatur ag programs. FILE | WCMESSENGER
Note: This story has been updated with information from the Texas Department of Public Safety and Decatur ISD.
Two Decatur teenagers were killed and another child was critically injured in a wreck Monday morning east of Decatur.
The crash happened around 6:45 a.m. on U.S. 380 at the intersection with Private Road 4011.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 1994 Ford F-150 driven by 16-year-old Sophia Christensen pulled out to cross U.S. 380 from PR 4011 in front of a 2005 Freightliner rock truck driven by 33-year-old Jose Felix Rodriguez towing a trailer.
“The Freightliner struck the Ford pickup, jack-knifed, overturned, and came to rest in the center median of Highway 380,” Sgt. Chris Williamson with the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a news release. “The Ford pickup slid onto the grass off the south shoulder.”
The pickup truck’s front passenger, 13-year-old Nolan Christensen, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sophia Christensen was taken by ground ambulance to Medical City Denton in critical condition. She later died from her injuries, according to the news release.
The rear passenger of the pickup truck, 12-year-old Ella Christensen was taken to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth.
Rodriguez was treated for minor injuries.
DPS noted that the investigation is ongoing.
U.S. 380 eastbound lanes were shut down for the rest of the morning while the wreck scene was processed and cleared of debris.
On Monday afternoon, Decatur ISD sent a letter to parents and staff saying their schools “experienced unimaginable loss following a tragic vehicle accident early this morning” and asked that the community “keep this family in your hearts and prayers.”
“Grief expresses itself in many ways. Although school is out for the summer, we know that this tragedy may raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community — especially our students. Please be mindful of this and know that we will be available to support you and your family as these emotions are processed,” Superintendent Taylor Williams said in the letter.
The First Baptist Church of Decatur’s Youth Center was open at 6 p.m. Monday for any students who wished to gather with others or grieve, according to the district.
Counselors will also be available 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Decatur High School auditorium.
For additional support, the district encouraged families and staff to contact their school campus or Wise County Christian Counseling at 940-627-1618 or visit wiseccc.org.
The loss hung heavy over Monday’s Decatur School Board meeting, which began with a prayer for those affected by the deadly crash.
“Tonight our hearts are heavy, they are broken, and in this place we lift up the family of the impacted students in this tragedy. We pray for the many friends, classmates, teachers and community members who are impacted,” board member Matt Joiner prayed before pausing for a moment of silence.
Administrators wiped away tears at times as they gave reports. Several items on the agenda were skipped or postponed to next month, and action items were quickly approved with no discussion.
Ten minutes after the open session portion of the meeting began, board president Stan Shults brought the evening to a close.
“I know this is tough to get through tonight. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to move at 6:10 that we adjourn this meeting and allow everyone to do what they need to do,” he said.
Services for Sophia Christensen and Nolan Christensen are pending at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
Loading Comments