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Hundreds attend memorial to six teens who died in crash one year ago
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Family members of six teens who died one year ago in an overturned car along Niles-Warren River Road Southeast called the community together Monday evening on Courthouse Square.
Several pastors offered prayers on the anniversary of the tragic crash. Two people sang, and one woman read a “thank you” to all of the law enforcement officers, firefighters, hospital personnel and ambulance workers who did everything they could to save the teens and comfort the grief-stricken families.
Nearly 300 people turned out for the memorial.
Tosca Owens, aunt of Daylan Ray, 15, one of the boys who died, also thanked all of the churches and people who made calls and letters of support, who gave the families food, who donated money.
“At my sister’s house, she wanted for nothing,” Owens said. “That’s because of the great community of Warren, Ohio.”
She thanked the emergency personnel “for their extreme bravery on the day that changed all of our lives.
“You not only performed your duties without hesitation, but you showed your great care to the families,” she said. “You have our deepest respect and appreciation.”
Pastor Mario Hainesworth said one of the most heartwarming things that happened after the tragedy was watching Andre Bennett, father of victim Andrique Bennett, 14, turn his life over to God.
It’s an example of how God can “take a great mess” like the six deaths and turn it into “greatness.”
“One thing that touched me was when Andre confessed that Jesus Christ was his king, lord and savior after this great mess,” said Hainesworth, of Barnes Temple Church of God in Christ.
“I’m amazed by God that such a man like that — some of us would have turned our backs on God. Some of us would have been bitter and resentful, but this man right before me right now didn’t turn his back on God.
“He turned facing God and said, ‘God I love you,’ in midst of all the pain, in the midst of all the tears, I heard him say, ‘I love you.’
“That’s greatness. In the midst of pain and suffering he can bring out the greatness in our community, and I want to encourage everybody here if you want to honor the children, live with Jesus Christ.”
Mayor Doug Franklin said the response to the tragedy was inspiring.
“The way we showed love for these families, the way we supported these families, not only that day but a year later and we’re going to do in the future. I’m so proud to be called the mayor of this community,” he said.
He said he hopes the young people will continue to learn from the accident “and not let these lives be in vain.”
In the early spring, there will be a ceremony with the Warren schools to plant a memorial to the six teens on public property.
In addition to Bennett and Ray, those who died were Kirklan M. Behner, 15; Brandon A. Murray, 14; Ramone M. White, 15; and Alexis Cayson, 19. Cayson was driving 62 to 70 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone when she crashed, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
The vehicle in which they were riding overturned on a curve, flipping into a pond at about 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Two passengers, Brian K. Henry II, then 18; and Asher C. Lewis, then 15, were able to escape from the vehicle and survived.