HALLSVILLE (KYTX) -- An East Texas community is mourning the loss of a 16-year old boy killed in a crash in Hallsville. CBS 19's Abby Broyles is live at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview tonight with the latest on the other two teens injured in the crash.
DPS troopers tell us 17-year old Samuel Ellis and 17-year old Austin Urbelis were taken here to Good Shepherd. We're told Ellis is in fair condition tonight, Urbelis still in critical. It's a tragic loss as the youngest of the three, 16-year old Alejandro Olvera, died in the crash.
Around 5:00 Tuesday afternoon, DPS troopers say 17-year old Samuel Ellis was driving the 3 high school students down this road in Hallsville. They were heading west down willow road, just south of Highway 80, when we're told their SUV lost control and crashed into a tree. DPS and Hallsville PD responded to the crash.
Just before 6:00, a Harrison County justice of the peace pronounced Alejandro Olvera dead at the scene.
Olvera, known to his friends as Alex, was just 16.
CBS 19 spoke with principal John martin Wednesday at Hallsville High School, where Alex would've started his junior year in just couple of weeks.
"Alex was a very good kid, near and dear to our hearts so we're really going to miss him," Martin says,"we'd like the family to know if they need something we're there and this school, this campus, can help in any way possible."
After Tuesday's tragic loss, leaders at Hallsville High want other students to know their campus and community are there for them as they return to school later this month.
"Lean on other friends in this tough time, we have counselors here, staff members that are very loving and caring, there's plenty of support mechanisms here for other students that are grieving due to this loss," Martin said.
The loss of 16-year old Alex -- his young life remembered Wednesday in his community.
"Alex was a very liked young man, great sense of humor, will be dearly missed by not only his classmates but by teachers and staff here at this high school," Martin said.
Of course, tonight everyone at the school says their thoughts and prayers are with Alex's family and of the two boys still in the hospital here.
