Single-vehicle wreck claims lives of 2 Henderson siblings
Dec. 10—HENDERSON — Henderson and Vance County are grieving the loss of Zikera Kearney and Jaiah Kearney after a single-vehicle wreck Wednesday night on U.S. 158 Business claimed the teenaged sisters' lives.
Zikera Kearney, 17, and Jaiah Kearney, 19, each shared the same Henderson address according to an incident report provided by First Sgt. Christopher Knox, a Highway Patrol spokesman.
A Henderson Collegiate Facebook post from Thursday that has been shared more than 700 times indicates Zikera was a Henderson Collegiate high school junior and Jaiah graduated from the school in 2021.
"We are devastated by this heartbreaking news," Henderson Collegiate founders Eric and Carice Sanchez wrote. "Our hearts and prayers are with their family, as well as with our students, families, staff, and entire community. We ask that you would likewise continue to keep this family in your thoughts and prayers, and we will share more details with you about the arrangements as they become available to us."
"Finally," the post continued, "we want to share our gratitude to Vance County Public Schools for providing additional grief counselors to support our community through this tragedy."
Troopers responded to the crash at 11:45 p.m.
The vehicle was traveling east on U.S. 158 near Weybosset Road near Ruin Creek when it "crossed the centerline, overcorrected and lost control, traveling off the roadway to the right," according to the Highway Patrol report.
The vehicle then struck a tree and overturned, killing both the driver, Zikera Kearney, and front-seat passenger, Jaiah Kearney.
According to the report, seatbelts are believed to have been used by the occupants, and the cause of the collision is under investigation.
