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Head-on accident kills two
Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Two Faulkner University football players were killed early Tuesday morning when the Ford Explorer they were riding in collided head on with an 18-wheeler.
Ryne K. Wilhite, 19, of New Albany, Miss., and 20-year-old Teirson D. Hollis of Douglasville, Ga., were both in the vehicle when it was involved in the accident with an 2008 International truck on U.S. Highway 82, nine miles east of Maplesville.
Hollis
Wilhite
“All we have right now is an initial report,” said Doris Teague, with the Department of Public Safety. “The full details of the accident are still being investigated by the Alabama State Troopers.”
Wilhite, who was driving the Explorer, was declared dead at the scene, while Hollis was transported to UAB. He was pronounced dead by a doctor shortly after arriving at the hospital, Teague said.
“I’ve never been through anything like this—it hurts so much,” Faulkner head football coach Gregg Baker said in a university release. “T and Ryne were both great kids, two wonderful Christian young men. The only thing that is helping us right now is the fact that we all know exactly where they are, and that’s with our God in Heaven.”
The accident reportedly happened at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday when the two were reportedly returning to Montgomery after visiting a friend in Tuscaloosa.
Hollis and Wilhite were both sophomore offensive linemen. Hollis had been with the Faulkner program since its inaugural season in 2007. Wilhite, according to the school’s release, had transferred to Faulkner this semester and went through his first spring practice last month.
The school announced flags on the campus were flying at half-staff and that the other members of the football team were informed of the tragedy by Baker and his staff just after the school’s academic honors convocation Tuesday morning.
Faulkner president Dr. Billy D. Hilyer informed the rest of the student body, faculty and administration and announced that grief counselors have been made available to everyone on campus.
“This is a very difficult day for our family,” Hilyer said. My primary mission on this campus is to be there for our students and to help provide them what they need to earn a quality Christian education.”
Funeral arrangements for both Wilhite and Hollis have not been made available.
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Comments
Posted by davyhay (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a student at Jones School of Law at Faulkner and I just received an email from Dr. Hilyer on this. Admittedly, I did not know either of these your men. However, the mere proximity of this tragedy is profoundly jarring.
The undergraduate class did not have class yesterday and it is assumed that Wilhite and Hollis got an early start to morning classes after a three-day weekend.
My thoughts and prayers will certainly be with the families of these men.
Davy Hay
Posted by CrimusK8T (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very sad and tragic. Prayers for their families.
Posted by gardenkeeper7 (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prayers for these young men's family will certainly be a priority. It puts things into perspective when we realize
that we may not have another day. My heart goes out to these families.
Posted by CougarMom (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My son attended Alexander High School with T and he was a regular fixture around my home during those years. I can tell you the entire Alexander community, particularly the football and wrestling families are devestated at this news. T was a wonderful person and never let you forget he was Christian. His bright outlook on life and brilliant smile were his trade marks. I know he is dancing before the Lord now and I looking forward to meeting him one day in Heaven to do the same.
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