SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) -
The second day of school this year wasn't' what you would expect at West Rowan.
"Today's just been kind of an air of sadness around the school today, you can tell," said Algebra teacher and assistant football coach Lee Linville.
"It's a very solemn day, it's a very quiet day, they are very disturbed and hurt," added ROTC Colonel Herman Peterson.
"They're really in shock, trying to understand everything that went on, trying to understand the truth," said Allison Doby, a Guidance Counselor at West Rowan.
The truth, according to the Highway Patrol is that Cody Rives was driving this Mazda, speeding on Sherrills FordRoad with Tyrell Johnson in the passenger seat. Cody lost control, struck the wall of a bridge, then hit an SUV. Cody and Tyrell died at the scene.
"It was one of those things where it just kind of takes your breath away," added Linville, who taught both Rives and Johnson. "A joy to have in class, a pleasure to teach."
Colonel Herman Peterson taught Tyrell in ROTC and plans to give a certificate of achievement to his mother.
"Last year we had some students struggling in Algebra, he said I got that, send them to me, I can help them," Peterson told WBTV.
Students held a prayer service Tuesday morning, and many talked to counselors through the day. And one even spray painted a message at the end of the driveway that leads out of the student parking lot. It consisted of two simple words in white paint against the black asphalt: drive safely.
Those counselors will be available tomorrow at West Rowan. One counselor told us that several students stayed home today, others left early, too overcome with grief to stay in school.
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