A Pope High School student and another teen were killed Tuesday night in a single-car crash in Woodstock, according to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.
Gabriel Escandon, 17, a senior at Pope, was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash, which took place after 8 p.m. Tuesday on Towne Lake Parkway near Towne Lake Hills East, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said a Mazda 6 with five people—all of them teenagers—left the road and crashed into a tree in the median. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said that Esteban Cortez-Rendon of Woodstock, who turned 18 on Tuesday, also died after being rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
The three other occupants of the vehicle were not identified. They included a 17-year-old from Marietta and the driver, 18, from Smyrna, and an 18-year-old from Oklahoma, who were seriously injured and are hospitalized.
Escandon was a member of the boys varsity soccer team at Pope.
Pope principal Matthew Bradford sent out a note to the school community about Escandon’s death:
“It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Senior Gabriel Escandon who attended our school. This young man was very involved in the Pope High School community through sports and academics. This will be a great loss to all who knew him. Please keep this Pope High School family and our community in your thoughts in the upcoming weeks.”
He also provided ideas for parents to help their children with grief, including contacting the Pope counseling office, as well as community crisis resources.
A Cobb County School District spokeswoman issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:
“Our hearts are broken today following the news that Cobb students were involved in a tragic car accident. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and entire school community of the student who passed away and the students who are being cared for in the hospital. Additional school counselors are on site to support students and staff. The families ask that the media give them, and our schools, time to grieve. No further details are currently available, please continue to direct questions to the Communications Department.”
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office said speed may be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
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Ban cars plz god 🙏
Is there dash cam footage 🤔
Esteban lived in my neighborhood in Acworth for many years and was the same age as my daughter. I remember her having a crush on him in 4th grade. My heart is broken for his family and the other teens involved. I hugged her tighter tonight.
Yes ma’am. My girls go to Etowah High School and my oldest daughter is 17, a Senior and I hugged them so tightly that night and the next day, once we got confirmation of what actually happened. I am praying for all of the families affected and for the students in the hospital to recuperate.
My deepest condolences to condolences to his family and friends. Praying for them all, I am so sorry.