2 North Carolina high school football players killed in ‘devastating’ ATV accident

Two North Carolina teenagers were killed in an ATV accident over the weekend, leaving the community in deep sadness.

The two teenagers, Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo, were killed in an ATV accident in Transylvania County on Saturday, a Transylvania County Schools spokesman confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday afternoon.

The teens were riding a 2015 Polaris Sportsman quad when they attempted to make a turn, left the road and struck a tree, FOX Carolina reported.

Transylvania County Schools Superintendent Lisa Fletcher said in a statement posted online that the boys died in a “devastating accident.”

“Young, vibrant lives”

The teens attended Rosman High School. Photos of the two shared on the school's Facebook page Sunday show the boys in football uniforms. In a news release Sunday, Fletcher called the boys “young, vibrant lives” and said their deaths are a reminder of how precious life is.

A counseling center was set up at the school and Fletcher encouraged community members to support one another.

“Please keep the families of our dear students in mind and pray for them,” Fletcher wrote.

Community gathers around the family and expresses its condolences

Community members, including the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, have changed their social media photos in honor of the teens.

“On behalf of Sheriff Owenby and the men and women of the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, we extend our condolences, sympathy and greetings to the families and friends of these two young men,” the sheriff's office wrote. “Our prayers will be with you all during this difficult time.”

Other schools in the area also sent their condolences online.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Rosman community and football team as they mourn the devastating loss of two young lives,” Franklin High School said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosman High School during this difficult time.”

Community members plan to wear orange at Friday's football game in honor of the teens. “Come support our school and remember Jayden and Layne by helping us dye our stadium ORANGE at Friday night's game against North Henderson,” RHMS Cheer shared in a post later shared on the high school's Facebook page. “We will surely miss these guys and our team will need your support. Let's do this for our guys! GOOOOOOOOO, Tigers!”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757th. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina high school football player killed in ATV crash