Father's texts never read by son killed in crash
LEXINGTON, N.C. — State troopers describe the way 16-year-old Jordan Deal was driving the day two of his friends were killed, and another seriously injured as reckless and careless.
Three days after the accident, the North Davidson County High School student is still in the hospital.
Jordan was driving his friends Jonathan Leonard, Caige Campbell and Caige's sister Kayleigh home from school Monday when troopers say he ran off the road, hit several trees and overturned. John, 18, and Kayleigh, 15, were killed and Caige, 17, was seriously hurt.
John Leonard's father, Jeffrey Leonard, sent him a text message after seeing a bad wreck less than a mile from his house.
"Where are you?"
Three minutes later, another text: "John answer me right now. There has been a very serious car wreck below the church... air care is here now... I want to know it isn't you." Several minutes later, Leonard called his son. On the second attempt, a state trooper answered the phone.
That's how Jeffrey Leonard found out his only child was killed in a car wreck — just three days before Thanksgiving.
Leonard said he is still numb.
"It's like a nightmare you don't wake up from."
Pieces of the car John was riding in still lie on the side of City Lake Road. Sitting next to John in the backseat was Kayleigh, who was also killed. Her brother, Caige, was in the front seat.
"I've watched Kaleigh and Caige both grow up," said Bambi Torrence, the best friend of Kayleigh and Caige's mother.
"She's holding up, the best she can despite her daughter's passing. Her son is fighting for his life."
Torrence says Caige opened his eyes on Tuesday night and is improving however, his injuries are severe and he won't be able to attend his sister's or his friend's funeral this weekend.
"It's sad," said Torrence. "(There) are] really no words to describe it."
Neither family is blaming the driver for what happened. They say it was a terrible accident and are asking the public for prayers for all those involved.