A late-night drive on Freeport Road ended in tragedy Saturday when a car careened off the roadway in Summit Township, Butler County, killing two young adults and leaving a third teenager seriously injured. By Sunday, the tree the car hit had turned into a vigil site, with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes marking the spot where friends and neighbors gathered to grieve.
Pennsylvania State Police said the crash was reported around 10:12 p.m. and involved a 2016 Honda Accord that left the road, spun, overturned, and slammed into a tree, according to Butler Eagle. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Skyler B. Gray of Cadogan, and one passenger, 19-year-old Nevaeh S. Schweinsberg of Butler, died at the scene. A 17-year-old girl riding in the car was ejected and flown to a Pittsburgh hospital with serious injuries.
Friends described Gray as the kind of person who was always ready with a joke or a story, someone who could pull a laugh out of a bad day, according to WPXI. They said he leaves behind a 2½-year-old daughter and several siblings. Those who knew the pair said Gray and Schweinsberg were dating, and classmates spoke of being stunned as tributes stacked up at the roadside memorial.
Memorial and Vigil
The makeshift memorial at the crash site kept growing through the weekend, a cluster of flowers, candles, photos, and notes that turned a quiet stretch of Freeport Road into a gathering place. A prayer vigil was organized for Monday evening to support the families, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
"I just wanted to give people an opportunity to come together and hug and cry and share," Pastor Cindy Parker of Walk In Faith Ministries told CBS. Parker said the family will need "overwhelming support" in the days and weeks ahead as they grapple with the sudden loss and the long road of recovery for the hospitalized teen.
Community Fundraisers
Even as mourners gathered at the tree, the community moved quickly to try to ease the financial burden. GoFundMe pages and local fundraisers have been set up to help cover funeral and medical expenses, and organizers say donations are already coming in, as reported by Butler Eagle. Local TV coverage also pointed viewers to the online campaigns, with WTAE including direct links in its reporting.
Investigation
Pennsylvania State Police troopers said DUI appeared to be a factor in their preliminary investigation, and they are continuing to examine the scene and review witness statements, according to WPXI. Authorities have not announced any charges while the probe continues.
As state police work through the details of what happened on that stretch of Freeport Road, friends and family are focused on funeral plans and rallying around the injured teen. The roadside memorial, still growing by the day, remains a stark reminder of the loss, as CBS Pittsburgh reported.
-2.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)