Three Brooks County High School football players were killed Tuesday morning when their car hit a tree near their southeast Georgia school.
A fourth football player was flown to a local hospital where he is in critical condition, school officials said in a press release.
The dead students were identified as rising seniors Jicarre Watkins and Shawn Waters and rising junior Johnnie Parker.
De’vron Whitfield, a rising junior, was ejected from the car and is in critical condition at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.
The teens were driving to a morning football practice when the driver lost control of the car, causing it to veer off Webster Road and hit a tree near Brooks County High School, outside the Quitman city limits, around 9:30 a.m. Quitman is located about 20 miles west of Valdosta in south Georgia.
It is unclear at this time which student was driving.
Brooks County High’s football team finished 12-1 last season and won region 1-AA. The season was highlighted by a 28-24 upset victory over Valdosta High School and the first 10-0 season in Brooks County High School’s history, which dates back to 1959.
Watkins was a first team all-region defensive lineman in Region 1-AA.
The school cancelled the school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night and announced that counselors will be available to help students and staff.
About the Author
