TRAGEDY ON I-95
ACADEMY PARK JUNIOR KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED IN THREE-CAR CRASH ON HIGHWAY
An Academy Park High School student was killed and six other individuals were injured in a three-car crash Sunday night on Interstate 95.
The deceased passenger was identified by the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s office as 17-year-old Jaion Smith of Darby Township. Three of the injured victims were also students at the high school, according to Southeast Delco School District officials.
Smith was a passenger in a black GMC Yukon, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The driver of the Yukon and another passenger remained hospitalized Monday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center; the driver listed in serious but stable condition and the passenger in critical but stable condition. A fourth passenger — the only one in the Yukon wearing a seat belt — sustained minor injuries.
A preliminary investigation by state police indicates the Yukon and a white Nissan Altima, occupied by two juveniles, were traveling south on I-95 near mile marker 9.8, the Route 420 exit, about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The Yukon was in the left lane and the Altima was in the center lane. A third vehicle, a black Audi Q7 occupied by one adult and an 8-yearold child, was traveling north in the left lane.
The Yukon and Altima “contacted each other in a sideswipe,” according to state police.” After impact, both the Altima and Yukon were “redirected,” with the Altima coming to a final rest on the right side northbound berm, and the Yukon directed toward the guardrail separating the north and southbound lanes.
“At impact with the guardrail, the Yukon went airborne into the northbound lane. Once in the northbound lane, the Yukon impacted (the Audi) while barrel rolling over top of (the Audi,) the police release states. Three of the four individuals in the Yukon were not wearing seat belts and were ejected when the vehicle overturned.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was due to multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was an accident, according to the official “Findings of the Medical Examiner” document.
The operator of the Altima sustained minor injuries, and the driver and passenger in the Audi sustained moderate injuries.
Smith was a rising senior and offensive lineman for the high school football team. At 6 feet 1 inch and 298 pounds, he wore No. 77 on his jersey and was known by his teammates as “Boogz.”
In a prepared release, Academy Park High School Principal Nathaniel Robinson and Southeast Delco School District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Butz said the district was saddened by Smith’s death, and was also concerned for the recovery of the other students who were involved. A team of school counselors, psychologists and social workers will be available at the high school during the next couple of days to assist students and staff.
“Jaion excelled at many activities including football for the Knights. His hard work and effort helped the Knights to the District 1 Football Championship last year,” the release states.
Speaking for the district, Robinson and Butz said their thoughts and prayers are with all the families.
Smith had set his sights on playing high school football years ago.
“I’ve played center since seventh grade,” he told the Daily Times in a mid-season interview last year. “When I was in the eighth grade, I talked to Coach (Jason Vosheski) and he told me that he will need me in the future, to give it all I got and one day I’ll be a starter. That’s what I did.”
At the high school Monday, a banner of paper was outstretched in a hallway throughout the day for students to write messages in remembrance of Smith, as a way to console themselves and each other.
Stunned students also turned to social media to deal with the loss.
Several of Smith’s teammates, as well as players from rival school districts, offered their condolences. On Twitter, Academy Park senior Teddy Wright, the 2016 Daily Times Player of the Year, wrote: “Appreciate everybody in your life whether ya’ll on bad terms or not ... anything can happen at any min! Life is too short for grudges!!”
Penn Wood’s Edmund Dennis, who faced Smith on the football field last season, tweeted: “My prayers goes out to our fellow Del Val (League) team Academy Park and to the families of everybody involved in that car accident.”
Many tweets included the hashtag #ResteasyJaoin.
The Twitter accounts of the Penn Wood, Garnet Valley and Malvern Prep also offered their support.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Academy Park football program @APK_Athletics on the passing of Jaion Smith,” Garnet Valley posted.
Academy Park coach Eric Engle, who manages the offensive line unit on which Smith excelled, said Smith was a one-of-a-kind
player and person.
“Jaion was one of those kids you wish you had more than one of,” Engle tweeted to the Daily Times.
Monday morning, Smith’s devastated mother, Keisha Sargent, posted a message on her Facebook page asking for prayers.
“I’m so hurt and heartbroken right now,” she wrote. “It feels like a bad dream.”
Sargent also indicated that she is praying for her son’s friends who were in the car, and their families. “Love yall,” she wrote. Sunday night, northbound lanes on I-95 were closed for about an hour, though rescue crews were on the scene for about four hours.
Members of state police Troop K Accident Reconstruction Specialists responded to the accident scene. Trooper Joseph Gilbert led the investigation.