FAYETTEVILLE, NC — The Fayetteville community is in mourning after a horrific car crash claimed the lives of three E.E. Smith High School students and left a fourth critically injured on Wednesday evening. The accident occurred around 7:22 p.m. in the 2700 block of Rosehill Road, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
According to Fayetteville police, the vehicle carrying the students veered off the road, struck a telephone pole, and rolled down an embankment before coming to rest against a tree. Emergency responders arrived quickly but found three of the teens had already succumbed to their injuries. The surviving passenger was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill in critical condition.
Authorities have identified the three victims as #21 Jaihyon Elliot, #11 Trevor Merritt, and #4 Nick Williams, all beloved students and athletes at E.E. Smith High School. The fourth student, whose name has not been released, remains hospitalized as the community holds onto hope for their recovery.
The loss of these young lives has deeply affected the entire school district. Grief counselors and Crisis Counseling Services have been deployed to support students, staff, and families as they grapple with the enormity of this tragedy.
“This is an unimaginable loss for our school and our city,” said a school spokesperson. “Jaihyon, Trevor, and Nick were bright, talented, and full of promise. Their absence will be felt every day in our halls, classrooms, and hearts.”
Social media has since flooded with messages of love and remembrance. Friends described the boys as kind-hearted, driven, and inseparable—young men who inspired teammates and classmates alike. Candlelight vigils are already being planned by the Fayetteville community, which has united in grief to honor their memory.
Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash. While speed and road conditions are being examined, no official conclusions have been announced. The North Carolina Highway Patrol and Fayetteville Police Department are collaborating on the ongoing investigation.
As families and friends mourn, the Fayetteville community is rallying to offer comfort and assistance to those affected. Local organizations and school leaders have encouraged parents to have open conversations with their teens about road safety—a reminder that life can change in an instant.
For now, E.E. Smith High School stands together in heartbreak and solidarity, remembering Jaihyon Elliot, Trevor Merritt, and Nick Williams not for how their lives ended, but for the joy, laughter, and friendship they shared. Their memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved them.
🕯️ Forever in Our Hearts: Jaihyon, Trevor, and Nick — Gone Too Soon, Never Forgotten.