Schools
SOMA Schools Offer Support to Those Grieving After Fatal Crash
'When tragedy strikes, it is important to come together as a community,' superintendent says as district to hold support meeting Wednesday.
The South Orange-Maplewood School District in a statement released Friday offered "heart-felt sympathy to the families and friends of all four young men" involved in Tuesday night's fatal crash.
The school district will hold a forum Wednesday at Columbia High School to discuss support measures following the tragic deaths of 16-year-old Tamir Harry, who was a student at the high school, and 21-year-old Kervin Noel.
The two were killed in a crash Tuesday night at the intersection of Essex Avenue and South Fourth Street.
They were each ejected from their vehicle when it was struck by a car driven by Harrison Allen, 20, who pleaded not guilty Friday to vehicular homicide and aggravated assault by auto charges.
Rodney Lovius, 21, and Tamir Harry’s brother, Tahsir, 20, were seriously injured in the accident.
"A tragic accident has impacted several current and former students from the Columbia High School family," Superintendent Brian Osborne said in a statement Friday. "We grieve the untimely death of Tamir Harry and Kevin Noel, and the injuries of Rodney Lovius and Tashir Harry."
More than 100 people attended a vigil for the accident victims on Thursday. The school district's forum will be held at the CHS cafeteria Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
"When tragedy strikes, it is important to come together as a community," Osborne said.
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