Heartbroken father grieves the loss of son in afterschool crash in North Carolina

LAWNDALE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The Highway Patrol announced that no charges will be filed in a crash that killed two Burns High School students Wednesday.

The Highway Patrol says this was just a tragic accident.

Troopers believe just down the road from the school, the student made a mistake while driving that caused the crash.

Daquavious Hopper and his brother grew up with their father, Dennis Hopper, by their side, but he is quick to say that Daquavious loved his mom.

“He was a momma’s boy and very respectful, and he spoke kind words to people. He always tried to give a helping hand to people. He was a good boy,” said Dennis Hopper.

Daquavious Hopper will forever be 17.

The Burns High School student was killed in a crash Wednesday near the high school.

Hopper was driving a car that, after the crash, is barely recognizable in the wreckage.

He had his two family members, who are also Burns students, in his car.

Troopers say Hopper crashed when he turned left in front of a pick-up truck driven by a father with his two kids inside.

“Who is we to question God or ask God, why he took our son away? It happened for a good reason, I’d rather for him to be in Heaven than the world we live in now,” said Dennis Hopper.

Troopers say 14-year-old Jaelyn Abraham was killed in the crash, and 16-year-old Xzavier Sanders was injured and in critical condition at the hospital.

The father and his two children in the pick-up truck were not hurt.

As the community grieves, Hopper’s father leans on his faith to get him through.

“I really feel like sometimes we got to come out of our flesh, you know what I’m saying and speak, and let God be God, you know what I’m saying?” asked Hopper.

The school district says Burns High School had counselors available to students Thursday, and they are grieving and leaning in as closely as they can to support students and staff right now.

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