USD 253 Emporia is in mourning following a vehicle accident which claimed the lives of three teenagers and injured a fourth Saturday evening.
A news release from the district stated, “We are aware that Emporia Middle School and Emporia High School have experienced the deaths of two current students and a former student over the weekend. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of those students who were involved in the tragic accident.”
Saturday, authorities were called to the 800 block of Road 147 for a suspicious person. Upon investigation authorities determined the individual, later identified as 15-year-old Ashley Edwards, had been involved in motor-vehicle accident of some kind according to Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope.
It was later determined that a vehicle had left Road 147 near Road J, roughly a mile south of Emporia, and entered the Cottonwood River before sunset. Three victims,13-year-old Paxton Luby and 17-year-olds Chase Luby and Shelby Phoenix, were found inside the car and had passed away by the time authorities arrived.
The aforementioned news release from USD 253 says the district has implemented a “response plan in the schools” focused on providing support to their students in the aftermath of the tragic accident.
The district is not planning to offer any additional statements at this time.
