Two teens’ deaths in car crash rock NWA communities

GoFundMe accounts have been set up to help the families of both Milawski and Daugherty with funeral expenses.

FAYETTEVILLE — A candlelight vigil is scheduled today in honor of two Northwest Arkansas teens who died in a car crash Friday.

The one-car accident took the lives of George “Buddy” Milawski, a sophomore at Fayetteville High School, and Kyle Daugherty, a Eureka Springs High School student. Four other boys in the car were injured.

The boys were in a 2004 Hyundai traveling south on Carroll County 219 near Berryville shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, according to a preliminary report by Arkansas State Police. Milawski and Daugherty were among the passengers.

The vehicle went off the road at high speed and crashed into some trees, according to the report. The road was wet.

The Eureka Springs School District acknowledged the accident with a post on its Facebook site Saturday.

“We extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the students involved in Friday’s accident. Many counselors and therapists will be on hand at the high school on Monday to assist students in their time of need,” the post stated.

Eureka Springs High School plans to host a student-led candlelight vigil in the gymnasium at 4:50 p.m. today — the time of the crash listed on the police report.

Milawski had attended Eureka Springs schools before transferring to Fayetteville, according to friend Brett Sooter.

Sooter, a teacher and coach at Springdale’s Lakeside Junior High School, met Milawski and got to know him well through a friendship with Milawski’s sister. Milawski was like a younger brother to him, Sooter said.

“He was a really good kid. He loved to make people laugh. He liked to crack jokes,” Sooter said.

Milawski was passionate about basketball and dreamed of playing the game at a high level. If he could have played basketball from morning to night, he probably would have, Sooter said.

“There’s not another kid you would want on your team to be a leader or to be around,” Sooter said. “He’s the type of kid every coach would want on his team.”

Milawski and Daugherty were close friends, Sooter said.

Brad Stamps, a Fayetteville basketball coach, said Milawski moved to Fayetteville from Eureka Springs last summer. Milawski was on the sophomore basketball team. News of his death came right after the varsity squad won the 6A-West Conference championship Friday.

“Friday night and Saturday were an emotional roller coaster for all of us,” Stamps said. “Our first thought was to get in touch with all of the sophomores who were teammates and find out what we could do.”

The sophomores brought the family some groceries and presented them with Milawski’s jersey, a team picture and a basketball signed by the team, Stamps said.

The four injured in the crash, including the driver, were taken to Mercy Hospital in Berryville and Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville for treatment, according to the report.

One of the injured was a Fayetteville High School student. He is expected to be OK, said Alan Wilbourn, a spokesman for the School District.

Fayetteville High School Principal Jay Dostal sent an email to parents and staff members informing them of Milawski’s death and letting them know counselors would be available for students, Wilbourn said.

GoFundMe accounts have been set up to help the families of both Milawski and Daugherty with funeral expenses. The two accounts combined had drawn more than $15,000 in donations as of late Tuesday.