LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. — Three people died and two others were seriously injured after a crash early Sunday.
According to Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Dallas Thompson, the Highway Patrol was requested to the scene of a single-vehicle crash at about 4:15 Sunday morning on South Chantilly Road, south of Ethington Road in Lincoln County.
The victims who died in the crash were William Flickinger, 18, from Troy, Kaeden Tyler, a 15-year-old boy from Winfield and Emily, a 17-year-old girl from Hawk Point.
The survivors, Hailey, a 17-year-old girl from Winfield and Trevor, a 20-year-old Troy man were airlifted to St. Louis Mercy Hospital. Family and friends confirmed these identities with 5 On Your Side.
According to the MSHP crash report issued Sunday afternoon, the three victims who died in the crash were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash around 4 a.m. by medics with the Lincoln County Ambulance District.
Many families and friends are still grappling with news that their loved one was killed.
“Maybe he’s one of the ones that’s just in critical condition,” Jordan Reichert said.
It was only yesterday that Reichert found out her 15-year-old nephew Kaeden was in a deadly car crash.
“He was his family’s protector...he just loved fishing...going hunting...being outdoors," Reichert said.
She said she hoped and prayed he survived. But Kaeden was one of the three people killed.
“Kaeden...he was an amazing kid...he gave the best hugs," she said.
Now, Reichert said she is left with nothing but memories.
“He drew them in -- he could make anybody his friend -- he wanted to take care of who was around him," she said.
Friends, family, and loved ones gathered at the site of the crash Monday holding each other closely, sharing memories, and even doing burnouts in honor of those they loved and lost. First responders showed up too and blocked off the road to incoming traffic so that the space was safe to grieve.
“I’m glad it’s bringing us together, but I’m also sad it’s bringing us together in this type of way," Ryan Recsnik, a friend and former classmate, said.
He said it has not hit him that he will never hear about his former co-worker Emily, or that his best friend Trevor almost died, or that he will never call his friend Will again.
“Maybe if one day I see him in my dreams, then I’ll get to talk to him. Until then, it’s until next time," he said.
Reichert knows her family will keep memories of her nephew alive forever.
“They can share a piece of him with me and I can share what I know of him with them," she said.
Reichert said she’s working to put together a memorial and sell T-shirts to help her nephew’s parents cover his funeral. She said she hopes any extra costs might go to a scholarship or a park memorial in his name.
A crash reconstruction team is handling the investigation into the crash.
Investigators reported, the 2008 Ford focus was traveling too fast, went airborne, and began skidding as it landed back on the roadway. The car left the roadway, struck a tree, and flipped.
A spokesperson with R-III school district in Lincoln County shared the below message with 5 On Your Side:
The Lincoln County R-III family was heartbroken to learn of the death of three of our students and the serious condition of another.
We extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of the students and all individuals impacted by this tragedy.
Tomorrow and throughout this week, District crisis counselors will be on-site at Troy Buchanan High School, New Horizons High School, and Ninth Grade Center to work with students and staff. Additionally, school counselors are on-site at all of our school locations for any individual that would like to reach out.
We will continue to support the family, students, and staff in the coming days and weeks.
GoFundMe pages have been created to help with funeral expenses for two of the victims. A third GoFundMe page was created to help with the medical costs for one of the crash survivors. You can find links to them below.
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This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update information as it is confirmed.