Vigil held for Camden teens killed

CAMDEN COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) - A close-knit community came together Friday night to remember two teens killed in a car crash last weekend.

It's been a difficult few days in Camden County. Two teens were killed in a crash last weekend, then, a former student was killed in another crash as she was coming home from one of their funerals.

Investigators say 18-year-old Denzel Hicks and 16-year-old Jeremy McPherson died when their Mustang spun out of control on Route 158 last Saturday night, near Country Club Road. That pain got worse when Thursday night, family members say Adelyn Houtz died on Route 343.

Friday night, friends and family of Hicks and McPherson held a tribute in their honor at Camden County High School.

"You never know when you're going to die," said Camden County student Daniel Lunsford. "You have to live everyday like it's your last, because you never know who many you have left."

"Seeing them everyday and talking to them and then automatically they're gone," added student Lexi Oldham.

Hicks and McPherson were popular students at the school.

"I knew Jeremy better than I new Denzel," said one student. "It's been pretty hard. I cried a lot over it."

As if it wasn't tough enough on this tight knit community, Thursday night ended in more tragedy. A former student was killed and a current one is fighting for her life.

"If I lost her I would be devastated," added student Courtney Mitchell.

But in the face of sorrow, the students say they get strength from each other.

"This community definitely is a family," said student Krystal Smith. "When this happened we definitely came together as family."

The North Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating Thursday night's crash. Camden Student Shania McCoy and another woman are in critical condition.