SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — Four people were killed and one person was critically injured after a single-vehicle crash in a suburban Chattanooga city early Saturday, authorities said.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the accident happened at about 1:40 a.m. CDT on a highway in South Pittsburg, located west of Chattanooga, WTVC reported.
The THP report said a 2010 Toyota Camry was traveling eastbound and crossed the median when the driver was negotiating a curve, according to the television station. The vehicle struck a tree before coming to a stop.
Marion County Superintendent Mark Griffith confirmed to WRCB-TV that three recent South Pittsburg High School graduates and one current student were killed in the crash. Griffith added that the other student was in critical condition.
None of the deceased passengers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the highway patrol. The youth who was injured was wearing a seat belt.
Killed in the crash were Johnathan Allen, 20, who was driving; Jayven Martin, 22; Sayveon Martin, 20; and a 16-year-old whose name has not been released, WRCB reported.
Heartbroken to learn that a current South Pittsburg High student, and three recent graduates died in a vehicle accident last night. One current student was seriously injured. https://t.co/TqlsenQQtw
— David Carroll (@DAVIDCARROLL3) June 4, 2022
The surviving passenger was identified as a 17-year-old, according to the television station.
All five people in the vehicle played football at South Pittsburg High School, Griffith said. The 16- and 17-year-old were current players, while the other three passengers were alumni.
“As superintendent for 16 years, I’ve had to deal with tragedies like this, but never to this magnitude,” Griffith told WTVC.
In a Facebook post, the Pittsburg football team wrote that “our family is hurting this morning and in desperate need of prayers.”
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