Latest news with #Happoldt
USA Today
18-02-2025
- USA Today
3 arrested in North Carolina ATV crash that killed 2 high school football players
3 arrested in North Carolina ATV crash that killed 2 high school football players Officials now say that alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, and are accusing adults of providing alcohol to minors. Authorities initially said alcohol wasn't a factor. Three people have been arrested in connection with a North Carolina ATV crash that killed two teenage boys. High school football players Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo both died in a four-wheeler crash in Transylvania County on Aug. 25. The teens were driving a 2015 Polaris Sportsman when they ran off the road and hit a tree while navigating a curve. Alcohol is now believed to be a factor in the ATV crash, North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesperson William Happoldt told USA TODAY. Ashley Marie Darity of Rosman was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter in connection to the crash, according to Happoldt. Her bail was set at $20,000, and her disposition hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, court records show. Darity, 34, is accused of providing the teens with alcohol, though state highway patrol initially said no alcohol was involved and cited excessive speed as the cause of the crash, according to the Transylvania Times. Darity's attorney, Matthew Schofield, declined to comment on behalf of his client on Monday. Two others also arrested in hosting underage drinking party North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement officers have also arrested Balsam Grove residents Brandon Kaine Rathbone, 47, and Patricia Faye Whitehead, 33. Both are charged with aiding and abetting the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21. Their bail was set for $500. An arrest warrant for Rathbone states the two hosted an underage house party where they allegedly provided a 15-year-old with a malt beverage. They also "held the juvenile up to assist (them) in doing a keg stand," a drinking game where someone does a headstand while consuming alcohol. Happoldt said their arrests were in connection with the investigation but did not provide more specifics. Rathbone's date of offense is listed as June 10, 2023 and Whitehead's as Feb. 14, 2023, both over a year before the crash. USA TODAY was working to determine the attorneys representing both Rathbone and Whitehead. Community reels from 'unimaginable loss' Layne and Jayden were both students and football players at Rosman High School, part of the Transylvania County Schools district. In an Aug. 25 statement, Superintendent Lisa Fletcher called the crash a "devastating accident" that struck the community with an "unimaginable loss." "The loss of such young, vibrant lives is a stark reminder of how precious life is and how deeply we are all connected," Fletcher wrote. Following the tragedy the Rosman High School community held an "orange out" at an Aug. 30 home football game against North Henderson, where fans wore orange to show unity and support, according to the Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contributing: Saleen Martin
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
3 adults charged in ATV accident that killed 2 Rosman High football players
State law enforcement confirmed the arrests of three Transylvania County adults for their role in the deaths of two Roseman High School students, juniors Jayden Reynaldo and Layne Jones, in an ATV accident last August. The two teenagers were driving on Old Wagon Road around 1 a.m. Aug. 25 when they ran off the road, struck a tree and were ejected from the vehicle. Both students were pronounced dead at the scene, the Citizen Times previously reported. At the time, North Carolina Highway Patrol believed excessive speed was the cause of the accident. Months later, law enforcement now believe alcohol to be a factor, according to Special Agent Antwan Happoldt. Ashley Marie Darity, 34, of Rosman, was arrested by North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement special agents and charged with two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter, Happoldt told the Citizen Times. Darity was indicted on the charges in Transylvania Superior Court on Feb. 11, records show. State law enforcement officials have not confirmed what involvement Darity had in the deaths that led to the charges, though asked by the Citizen Times. Court records list Darity's date of offense as Aug. 24, the day before the accident. Brandon Kaine Rathbone, 47, and Patricia Faye Whitehead, 33, both of Balsam Grove, were also arrested in connection to the accident, Happoldt said. Both were arrested on Aug. 13 for aiding and abetting a person less than 21 years of age in the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages, their arrest warrants state. According to his arrest warrant, Rathbone held an underage house party and purchased a malt beverage in part for a 15-year-old. Both Rathbone and Whitehead "held the juvenile up to assist (them) in doing a keg stand," according to the warrant. Whitehead is also accused of purchasing Twisted Tea, an alcoholic iced tea, for the underage teens. North Carolina ALE Special Agents often work with N.C. State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies investigating vehicle collisions that result in the personal injury or death of people under the age of 21 when alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident. This is an on-going investigation, Happoldt said. More: Two Rosman High School students die in weekend accident in Transylvania County Transylvania County Schools released a news release about the death of the two Rosman students on the afternoon of Aug. 25. Both played on the school's football team. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of losing two of our beloved Rosman High School students in a devastating accident," the release said. "Our community has been struck by an unimaginable loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these remarkable young individuals." Many Western North Carolina high schools posted messages of support and condolences across social media on the Sunday after the accident for Rosman, including Andrews, Brevard, Cherokee, Erwin, Franklin, Hayesville, Madison, Mitchell, Murphy, North Henderson, North Buncombe, Owen, Roberson, Smoky Mountain, Swain County and West Henderson. Five days after the death of the two players, the Rosman football team dedicated its game against North Henderson to them. The Tigers left Reynaldo and Jones' spots open on the field and let the play clock tick down to zero in their memory. More: Rosman football honors teammates in first game after the two Tigers' deaths This story will be updated. Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: 3 charged in ATV accident that killed 2 Rosman High football players
