A 17-year-old Dacula High School student was killed and his younger brother critically injured in a wreck Friday morning, according to police and the principal of the Gwinnett County school.
It’s the second student death at the school in nine days.
"Our school community is healing from another recent loss and we know that this news will be very hard for our students and our community," Principal Bryan Long wrote in a letter on the school's website.
The wreck happened on Ga. 316 at the intersection with Harbins Road, about two miles from the school.
Investigators believe Jared Brown, 17, was driving a red 1992 Honda Accord eastbound on Ga. 316 with his younger brother, 15-year-old Jaison, in the passenger seat, Cpl. Michele Pihera with Gwinnett police said. Jared Brown was attempting to turn left onto Harbins Road when he turned into the path of a Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by Richard Ford of Bethlehem, Pihera said.
The vehicles collided and the Honda came to rest in the grass beyond the intersection, Pihera said.
The brothers were taken to Gwinnett Medical Center, where Jared died from his injuries. Jaison sustained serious, life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Ford, 44, was also taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.
On Oct. 21, a 17-year-old girl died after deliberately hurting herself in the school gym, according to school officials.
Additional counselors were at the school Friday to assist grieving students and staff members.
“As we all know, a loss like this touches not just our students but others throughout the school and community,” Long wrote. “I know your thoughts and prayers will be with the family, our students, our faculty, and our school as a whole as we cope with this loss.”
Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula opened its doors Friday afternoon for those in the community to meet, Long said.
Senior night festivities and Dacula’s Friday night football game against Archer High School were postponed until 7:30 p.m. Saturday. A vigil was held at the school Friday night.
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