Two Eastern Randolph students die in car wreck

RAMSEUR – The Eastern Randolph High School community is in mourning after the death of two students in an automobile accident Thursday night.

Mario Lara, 15, died at the scene.

Tyler Franklin, who was the driver of the Infiniti, died Friday after he was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Two other students were hospitalized following the single-vehicle accident.

Franklin, 17, was the son of Kevin Franklin, who’s president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation.

The accident occurred at about 6:25 p.m. at the intersection of Parks Crossroads Church Road and Kildee Church Road in Ramseur.

Based on an initial police report, Franklin’s vehicle traveled off the road to the right, overcorrected, re-entered the roadway before traveling off the roadway to the right again and hitting a tree.

Emergency services said it received two 911 calls from iPhone crash notifications within the car. 

Fred Smith, board chair of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, released a statement.

“This tragic event touches so many of our friends, students, and the faculty of Eastern Randolph High School as well as our community at large,” the statement said. “Our business community was especially saddened to learn that the son of Kevin Franklin, President of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, was among those in the accident. On behalf of the RCEDC Board, staff and associates, our thoughts and prayers for healing and comfort go out to those families involved.”

The two injured passengers in the vehicle have been described as teenage girls.

Classes at the school are scheduled to begin Monday.

The Randolph County School System released a statement that said in part: “These students are very special members of the student body at Eastern Randolph High School as well as the Randolph County School System.  The leadership of the school system will keep these students and their families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. “

The school district announced that counselors will be on the school’s campus next week to provide support for students and staff members as needed.