MILWAUKEE – A collision of two trucks on a rural Northampton County road sent a man and two students at a local school riding as passengers to Vidant Medica lCenter in Greenville following an accident near here Thursday afternoon.

Randy Deloatch had just picked up his son and another student from Northeast Academy in Lasker shortly after 3 p.m. and were traveling east on Doolittle Millpond Road (State Road 1508) when Deloatch’s truck approached a tractor traveling west on the road pulling a large farm implement.

Meanwhile, a second vehicle, a truck driven by Kyle Glisson, was following behind the tractor, also traveling west.

According to the investigating officer, Trooper Chad Wheeler with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Glisson’s vehicle attempted to make a left turn at which time it collided nearly head-on with Deloatch’s truck.

The three in the Deloatch truck, including the two students whose names have not been released, were flown by Life Flight to Vidant Medical Center and treated for injuries sustained in the collision.

Glisson suffered minor injuries after the impact and was treated on the scene.  Later, Deloatch was treated and released from Vidant.

Wheeler said one of the teens suffered head trauma and a compound fracture.

The injuries to the second teen were not immediately released but officials will only say that the youth is in critical condition.

Just prior to the News-Herald’s press-time on Friday evening, Wheeler stated he had received confirmation from Vidant Medical Center that one of the two students had died.

While the investigation is still pending, the Highway Patrol says Glisson will be charged with failure to see safe movement before making a left-hand turn, a driver’s license violation, and a seat-belt violation.

Deloatch was charged with failure to restrain a child of less than the age of 16 in a vehicle.

Three area ministers were on hand Friday to counsel faculty and staff at Northeast Academy, according to NEA Headmaster Russell Leake.

“These were two young men so full of life and enjoyed life to the fullest,” said Leake. “We were just tickled to have them at school with us.

“It’s been a long day,” the headmaster added. “We’ve all hugged and laughed and cried and prayed together.  This is just something you never want to deal with when you deal with kids.”

Leake went on to comment on the close ties that bind everyone at Northeast.

“Our school is small,” Leake said. “Everybody knows everybody and we’re all like family.  In times of crisis we put aside our differences and do what’s necessary to assist one another.”