Williams Field students mourn death of classmate

They left prayers, memories and messages of hope. Dozens of Williams Field High School students gathered Thursday at the site of a horrific crash that claimed the life of a classmate Wednesday night and left another three clinging to life.

VIDEO: Gilbert teen killed in accident

VIDEO: Watch Tribune's Nicole Beyer report

SLIDESHOW: View photos of the memorial at the crash site

Dylan Beaver, 15, was killed after the Ford Explorer he was in veered off a neighborhood road about 9:15 p.m. near Germann Road and Ranch House Parkway, flipped and slammed into a brick post.

Beaver's 16-year-old brother, Luke, was driving the vehicle, and Randy Deal Jr., 16, and Parker Skidmore, 16, also suffered life-threatening injuries and remained in comas Thursday, several people close to the victims said.

"Everyone is kind of in shock mode right now," said Steve Campbell, a Williams Field football coach. "It's kind of a different situation. Not only do we have a fatality, but we have kids fighting for their lives."

Several students placed flowers at the scene and wrote on two wooden crosses placed between sheets of broken glass and metal shards from the crashed vehicle.

The boys, best friends who played several high school sports together, were driving back after getting something to eat after a track meet.

Witnesses visiting the crash scene Thursday said they saw the SUV speeding up the street before it lost control while turning a corner. The SUV struck a curb and rolled more than 40 yards.

Only one of the passengers, Deal, was wearing his seat belt. He remained in the vehicle, unconscious.

However, the other three were thrown from the SUV and later flown to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital. Medical crews pronounced Dylan Beaver dead at the scene.

"It was a terrible impact," said Chris Adams, who saw the crash and called 911. His wife, a doctor, jumped out of the car to help the boys, he said.

Police are still investigating the crash. However, investigators said speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Several people, including family, friends and school officials, visited the crash site throughout the day Thursday, some crying.

Crime scene tape roped off where the SUV had ripped though a fence, fire hydrant and brick post.

"It's terrible because these were such good, good kids," said Kelvin Ingram, one of the boys' football coaches, while staring at what was left of the crash vehicle.

Students and coaches said the boys were well-known and well-liked, and principal Cindy Royer said the news hit the school hard.

The school canceled most of its after-school events for the day, Royer wrote in a letter to parents.

Grief counselors were brought to the school to help, and several dozen students took advantage of their presence, district spokeswoman Sara Bresnahan said.

Students also said that several groups of teens joined together in the hallways, holding hands and praying.

"Everyone is an emotional wreck at school," said Melissa Oglesby, a close friend of Deal's.

"We put our differences aside and talked to each other and hugged one another. It was a time for everyone to come together," she said.

Friends also flooded the boys' MySpace.com pages with messages such as "please be ok," and "stay strong, we are all praying for you."

There was a candlelight vigil and ceremony for the boys at 7 p.m. Thursday. Students exchanged text messages to spread the word.

The Williams Field High School Football Booster Club has set up a memorial fund for Dylan, the Dylan Beaver - Benefit Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank.

Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch, with the money going to the school's football team at the parents' request.