By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Funeral services for three Hayden students killed in a Thursday evening wreck were scheduled to be held Monday.

Services for Whitney Bradford and Sarah Casey were scheduled to be held in the Hayden High School gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Services for Courtney Niceley were scheduled to be held at Hayden First Baptist Church at 10 a.m.

Jim Carr, superintendent of Blount County Schools, said student at Hayden High School were dealing with the disbelief of the news on Friday. He said there was “a lot of reflection and sadness” among the school’s 800 students.

“These friends were walking the halls with them yesterday and they’re gone today,” Carr said. “There’s a lot of shock and this is why we need to be supportive of each other.”

Counselors, ministers and parents from the community were on hand to offer support to the students.

“Any time a tragedy of this nature strikes our school community, it just brings pain, devastation and hurt,” Carr said. “The loss of life among our students is a precious thing.”

Carr said the school’s faculty had been supportive of the students but the faculty and community would need support, too.

“Prayers from all our friends and neighbors is about all we can ask for,” he said.

He advised the students to hold on to the memories of their classmates, support each other and reflect on the good things.

State trooper David Richards said the wreck happened on Highway 160 in the Nector community of Blount County. According to published media reports, the students were returning from a cheerleading clinic in Oneonta when the wreck occurred.

Four other students were all taken to Birmingham area hospitals where their conditions were unknown as of Friday. One student was reportedly treated and released Friday morning.

The four injured students have been identified as Sarah Agee, 17, Brittany Lovejoy, 17, Ariel Nibblet, 17, and Alexandria Thomas, 16.

Richards said he believed the seven students were riding in a four-door Chevrolet Impala. He said the car left the road and traveled down a 50-foot embankment before rolling over.

Richards didn’t know if the victims were wearing seat belts.

School was in session at Hayden High School Friday, but students who wanted to leave early were given the opportunity to do so.

A message on Hayden High School’s sports booster Web site reads “Deepest sympathy is extended to the families of Courtney Niceley, Whitney Bradford and Sarah Casey. They will forever be in our hearts! We Love You!”

Warrior Mayor Rena Hudson said her deepest sympathy goes out to the families of the girls who were killed and injured.

“The city of Warrior extends our prayers to the families in these most troubling times,” Hudson said.