LEFLORE COUNTY (KFSM) – Hundreds of people gathered at Panama High School on Saturday (Aug. 15) to remember three teenagers killed in a fatal crash.
A vigil was held at the high school's football field Saturday night. Balloons were released and many held a lit candle as they remembered the teens.
Vera Langdell's son Darryn was the driver of the pick-up truck that crashed. He was one of the three teens who died in the wreck.
"We had three, three young people taken from us, when they had a whole life to live,” Langdell said. "His birthday was October 25. He was going to be 18 years old."
Langdell said Darryn had one more year left of high school. Her son wanted to study petroleum engineering in college.
"He was very driven and he had ambition," she said.
Oklahoma state troopers said the odor of alcohol and open containers were found in the vehicle. Langdell said what happened is devastating, but hopes this prevents others from doing the same.
"Maybe, just maybe, all of his friends in school could realize that it's not worth it," she said.
Greg Ennis, Darryn's uncle, said he hopes someone might learn something from this.
"If my nephew's life, whenever he hit this tree -- will stop lives from going downhill and drinking and driving, I'm not saying it's worth it, but at least he didn't go out for nothing,” he said. “At least someone might learn something from this. I know I sure did.”
Darryn’s stepfather Joshua Harris said he plans to meet with the principal of Panama High School and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to find a way to present what happened as a lesson to other young people.