‘Nothing normal about today’: Baird High School embraces bereaved after fatal car wreck involving 3 local teenagers

Tobin Smith
·2 min read

BAIRD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – After a fatal crash in Baird early Sunday morning, Baird High School (BHS) offered counseling services for the bereaved on Monday.

3 Baird teens killed in Sunday morning crash

Sergeant Marc Couch with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) told KTAB/KRBC a group of Baird teenagers were struck by a drunk driver in the early morning hours of May 5. Three people were killed and three others were injured in this crash.

“The passenger car stopped at a stop sign and then failed to yield the right of way to the pickup truck that was on the roadway,” Sgt. Couch explained. “Signs of intoxication were seen from the driver of the pickup truck, and then she was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated, and taken to jail.”

Driver arrested for DWI following fatal collision in Baird

The victims’ ties were still fresh to BHS, as those who were killed where either newly graduated or currently enrolled in the school.

“We’ve had a couple of teachers break down today,” revealed Baird ISD Superintendent Dr. Tim Little. “We’ve had some students who are very distressed. This doesn’t affect just the schools, this affects pretty much everyone in the city. There’s nothing normal about today.”

Because of the nature of the close-knit community in Baird, many had ties to the victims and the suffering goes beyond the Immediate family members. Because of this, BHS said it’s taking measures to accept anyone in the community to receive counseling as a result of this tragedy.

“We’ve got a trauma team here from Region 14, we’ve got about eight counselors on staff, we’ve got our two school counselors working as well. We’re also working on developing some plans and some arrangements to make sure that we can continue supporting them going forward into the next weeks to come,” Dr. Little added.

A candlelight vigil for the victims is planned to begin after 7:00 p.m. Tuesday on Peyton Street.

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