MENTOR, Ky. — Two Highlands High School students died and two other people were injured in a crash early Tuesday morning, according to police and school officials.
Austin Davis, 17, and David Luckett, 16, died in the crash, police said. Two other passengers were injured in the crash; they were transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by a medical helicopter.
The crash happened at about 1:30 a.m. on Mary Ingles Highway near Main Street. Police said Davis was traveling southbound when he crossed the centerline, drove through the northbound lane and hit a tree.
Two people flown to U.C. after car crashes into a tree on Mary Ingles Highway in Mentor, KY. Road is closed at Main St. and is expected to be closed for a while. Happened around 1:30am. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/dZgJqXXdTS
— Adam Schrand (@AdamSchrand) April 28, 2020
Highlands High School officials on Tuesday afternoon confirmed Davis and Luckett attended the high school; Davis was a junior and Luckett was a freshman.
One of the other victims is also a student, and school officials said he would likely recover. The condition of the fourth victim is unknown.
Dr. Karen Cheser, superintendent of the Fort Thomas Independent Schools, released the following statement:
“I am absolutely heartbroken this morning and I know that our school community is as well. To lose young men with their whole lives ahead of them is just a horrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with their friends and families, and also with the two people still in the hospital and their loved ones.”
Highlands High School principal Matthew Bertasso said he and the Highlands staff are devastated to have lost members of the family.
“I will miss seeing Austin and David. And I certainly hope that the two people in the hospital can recover fully,” Bertasso said.
The Campbell County Police Department is investigating the crash.
