Brothers Robert and Wyatt Smith, who died in a single-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon near Bellefontaine, were “loved by their peers. Involved. Funny. Both boys were multiple sport athletes,” Benjamin Logan County Schools Superintendent David Harmon said.
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“Our prayers are being offered in support of the Smith family,” he said, “but we also ask for the prayers of our community.”
Harmon said he has learned the accident on Township Road 230 east of the city occurred not long after dismissal from Benjamin Logan High School, noting he could not say for certain if Robert and Wyatt were on their way home or to get a snack before their next after-school commitment. The crash happened just after 3 p.m.
Students were on a two-hour delay Thursday, and were met with mental health professionals, counselors and local pastors to help them cope when they arrived.
Sending our prayers and support to @BLSuptHarmon and our friends in the Benjamin Logan School District tonight and going forward. We in @ReynSchools uplift you in our thoughts and are here for you.
— Melvin J Brown (@REYNSupt) November 21, 2019
Older students will be met with many mental health professionals, counselors, social workers, local pastors and more.
“The day will look not all too similar to a ‘regular’ day for our students. Students will be allowed to gather with each other, [to] sit and talk in groups if they need to, meet with a professional as they need to,” he said. “We’re going to do what the kids need today and that will look very, very different.”
Harmon said Robert was a junior, known as the class clown, an athlete, and had a lot of friends. Wyatt was a freshman, a class officer, an outstanding athlete, and just recently organized a community service day for his classmates.
“Our hearts are aching, but we will always be RaiderStrong,” he said.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Benjamin Logan School District tonight and in the coming days! Heavy hearts find comfort in one another. 💔💔@BLSuptHarmon
— Urbana HS (Ohio) (@UrbanaHS_OH) November 21, 2019
Deputies and fire crews arrived to find a fully engulfed vehicle in the tree line on the west side of the road, according to a prepared statement from the sheriff’s office.
Robert was the driver; Wyatt was the passenger. No other information was available from the sheriff’s office.
The boys, of Bellefontaine, were taken first to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine and then to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
The investigation of the accident is continuing.
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