Students Returning from Basketball Tournament Among 8 Dead in Kansas Crash

• Two students from Oklahoma, a former teacher-coach and a school employee were among the eight people killed in a crash on Sunday, May 4, in Kansas
• The children were traveling back from a youth basketball tournament when the accident occurred
• “I am heartbroken for those who lost loved ones,” the Tulsa Public Schools superintendent said in a statement

Two students from Oklahoma traveling back from a youth basketball tournament were among the eight killed in a crash on a rural highway in Kansas, according to reports.

Donald “DJ” Laster, a student from Booker T. Washington High School, former coach and teacher Wayne Walls and transportation employee Ja’mon Gilstrap — all of whom were affiliated with Tulsa Public Schools — died in a two-vehicle collision on Sunday, May 4, on U.S. Highway 169 outside of the town of Greeley, CBS affiliate KOTV, Fox affiliate WDAF-TV and NBC affiliate KSHB reported.

A 9th grader from Union Public Schools died as well, the school district said. In addition, three other people, according to the reports. One person survived and was transported to the hospital. 

The Kansas Highway Patrol and school districts did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment. 

That Sunday, Gilstrap was driving the people from the schools south on the highway when he entered the northbound lane to pass another vehicle, Kansas Highway Patrol told KOTV. An oncoming vehicle in the northbound lane attempted to swerve, as did Gilstrap, but the two vehicles collided.

“Both cars burned up,” Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jodi Clary told CBS News. As of Monday, May 5, the crash was still under investigation, according to the outlet. 

Following the tragic crash, loved ones and the school districts have been grieving. 

“Many branches of our Tulsa Public Schools family are in mourning today,” Dr. Ebony Johnson, the superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, told WDAF-TV in a statement. 

“I am heartbroken for those who lost loved ones, and committed to honoring the immense collective impact each of these people had in Tulsa and in the lives of our young people,” she continued. “I am praying for their families and everyone involved, and hope others will continue to come alongside our students, team members, and families who are hurting.”

In a statement posted to Facebook, Union Superintendent Dr. John Federline offered their condolences after the unidentified 9th grader was killed. The school district noted that they activated their crisis response team and counseling had been made available. 

In a video from Tulsa Public Schools shared with CBS News, Laster’s former teacher, Ron Horton, described him as a dedicated student-athlete. 

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“He stood out for his friendliness and just the way he made kids feel at ease,” said Horton. “They just felt so comfortable around DJ. He was always smiling.”