FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Three E.E. Smith High School football players were killed in a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday night in Fayetteville, according to police and school officials. WNCN reports that Friday’s game against South View High School has been postponed.

Fayetteville police said a 2024 Honda Civic with four people inside was traveling north on Rosehill Road around 7:30 p.m. when it ran off the road, hit a utility pole, and then crashed into a tree.

Cumberland County Schools identified the victims as 18-year-old Jai’Hyon Lamont Elliot, 17-year-old Trevor Merritt, and 17-year-old Nicholas Williams. All three were students and members of the varsity football team.

The 21-year-old driver was airlifted to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill and was last reported to be in critical condit

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