Video: Calhoun County Mourns 2 Students Killed in Tragic Weekend Accident

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CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — The deaths of two teenagers in a weekend traffic accident shakes a close knit Northeast Mississippi County. It happened Saturday night when a Chevrolet Tahoe flipped and rolled after hitting a deer south of Big Creek.

In a county of 15 thousand, the deaths of two teenagers and injuries to four others touch almost everyone.

But Bruce and Calhoun City high schools are relying on that very sense of community to deal with their grief.

16-year-old Bruce High sophomore Caylee Leachman and 16-year-old Calhoun City sophomore “Tripp” Macon were killed in Saturday night’s accident. Five of their friends and classmates were with them in the SUV.

“Kids are hurting and grieving terribly, ” says Calhoun County School Superintendent Mike Moore.

It’s every school administrator’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it’s one of the situations school Superintendents like Mike Moore must prepare for but hope never happens.

“We started with our counselors and then reached out to clergymen, ” says Moore.

Bruce High has 400 students and Calhoun City has only 215.

The small numbers make students that much closer.

Counselors are on hand this week at all Calhoun County schools to help students cope.

These signs have been put up at Bruce High and Calhoun High so students can leave messages for their friends.

They can also drop off a letter in these bins, that are already full.

Moore says the students will be truly missed.

“Great kids and fun to be around, they touched so many lives.

He remembers them for their athletic talent, Caylee played softball and Tripp played football.
Some county leaders hope other students will remember a message from the loss of their friends.

“Seatbelts save lives. I don’t know if that would have been the case. Statistically speaking they would have had a better chance, ” says Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan.

Four of the other five students in the SUV were hospitalized.

Sheriff Pollan says three remain in the hospital, two at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tueplo and one at LeBoheur in Memphis.