Two Jackson teens are deceased after Sunday car crash, GoFundMe seeks assistance
Two teens are deceased after a car crash on Sunday evening in Jackson on Windy City Road at the intersection of McClellan Road.
A GoFundMe has since been created to raise funds for both funeral and medical expenses. The deceased were identified by the fundraiser's organizer Ellie Ramirez as Aaliyah Ayala and her boyfriend Connor White. Ayala's sister, Brynlee Merriweather, remains in stable condition at ROH.
In a press release from the Jackson Police Department, officers arrived at the Aug. 4 scene and identified two vehicles at the southwest corner of the intersection.
In one vehicle, medical staff pronounced two of the three occupants deceased at the scene. The third occupant was airlifted to Regional One Health in Memphis.
The driver was the sole occupant of the other vehicle and was taken for treatment at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
In its initial investigation, JPD noted that potential negligence to abide by a traffic control device and failure to wear seatbelts, both identified as contributing factors to the injuries. McClellan Road has stop signs at the Windy City Road intersection where through traffic has the right of way.
"This is a tragic reminder of the importance of using your safety belts and obeying all traffic control devices," Deputy Chief Derick Tisdale wrote.
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How to help
On Go Fund Me, more than 75% of a $10,000 goal has been raised for the family in the two days since its creation.
"I couldn't imagine having to plan one child's funeral while your other child is in the hospital. We want to take this stress off of the family by coming together to help them," Ramirez wrote.
On Thursday evening during a vigil for Ayala, friends, family, and teammates gathered in the center of a softball field at H. Leroy Pope Park, where she grew up playing. They exchanged fond memories of softball stories before releasing neon balloons in the air in her honor.
Taylen Permenter grew up knowing Ayala through softball and the two eventually became best friends off the field. At Thursday's vigil, which she organized, Permenter spoke affectionately about what Ayala was like.
"We have a very strong softball community here in Jackson where a lot of us grew up," she said.
A vigil is being held for the victims at Trinity Christian Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: A GoFundMe raises funds for Jackson teen car crash victims
