Update: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Crook County School District.
A Halfway man is dead after rolling his car on Highway 27 Wednesday night, according to police.
At 8:10 p.m., Oregon State Police and first responders arrived at the single-vehicle crash around five miles south of Prineville.
Investigation showed a Kia Spectra driven by 19-year-old Clayton Gray was traveling north when it crossed the southbound lane and left the road.
Gray was pronounced dead at the scene. A juvenile passenger was taken via Airlink to St. Charles with serious injuries.
According to the Crook County School District, the juvenile passenger was a student of Crook County High School and Gray was the student’s older brother. On Thursday, the district released a statement expressing condolences for the family.
“Our hearts are broken for the family and we are ready to provide whatever support is needed. We’re a small, close-knit community so tragedies like this affect all of us deeply. We’re praying the student makes a full recovery,” Michelle Jonas, Crook County High School Principal, said.
The district’s full statement is available below.
Crook County School District learned this morning that one of our students who attends Crook County High School was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash last night and was airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Unfortunately, the student’s older sibling died at the scene.
“Our hearts are broken for the family and we are ready to provide whatever support is needed. We’re a small, close-knit community so tragedies like this affect all of us deeply. We’re praying the student makes a full recovery,” said Michelle Jonas, Crook County High School Principal.
“Schools are like family and when one of our own is hurt, or tragedy strikes, we all feel that. Crook County School District is committed to supporting the family and providing all the resources we can to help our students and staff,” expressed Superintendent Dr. Sara Johnson.
These are always difficult and emotional events that affect staff and students in different ways. Counselors at Crook County High School have been meeting with students and will be available all day to answer questions and provide support through this difficult time. We are not releasing the name of the juvenile student out of respect for the family.
