Logan County teen brothers killed in crash were ‘loved by their peers’

Two Logan County teen brothers were killed in a crash Wednesday evening — a week before Thanksgiving.

Logan County authorities identified 16-year-old Robbie Smith and 14-year-old Wyatt Smith as the teens killed after a truck driven by the older teen crashed on Township Road 230.

The truck was found not far from Benjamin Logan High School where the two were students.

“Our hearts are hurting for the Smith family,” Benjamin Logan Superintendent Dave Harmon said. “There is no way to express the hurt we have for the family. The boys were both really great young men. Loved by their peers. Involved. Funny. Both boys were multiple sport athletes.”

Robbie was a junior and known as funny and caring, Harman said, always trying to make people laugh. Wyatt was a freshman who was a class officer and just recently organized a community service day for his classmates.

Wyatt was also known as an outstanding athlete.

“They were loved,” Harman said. “Both those kids are really, really loved by our students and by our staff.”

The crash was reported at about 6 p.m. and investigators were at the scene throughout the night.

Deputies and fire crews arrived to find a fully engulfed vehicle in the tree line on the west side of the road, according to a statement from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

The deaths had an immediate impact on the community, Harman said. The start of Thursday’s school day was delayed by two hours and when students did make it to school they were greeted by mental health professionals, counselors and local pastors to help them cope.

The boys’ parents were also at the school to greet the students.

Harman said the school district jumped right into action alerting the district through an “all-call” that tragedy had struck. It then began gathering the support that students need, he said.

The school wants to give its students the tools they need to cope with their loss, Harman said.

“Students will be allowed to gather with each other,” he said. “Sit and talk in groups if they need to. Meet with a professional counselor or pastor as they need to.”

A remembrance or vigil for the boys is not scheduled yet. The school’s focus over the next few days will be on how to best support the students and staff who just lost loved classmates, Harman said.

“Our prayers are being offered in support of the Smith family, but we also ask for the prayers of our community,” Harman said. “The outpouring of prayer and support that has been offered by our community for the family, our students and our staff over the past few hours is truly incredible.”

“Our hearts are aching, but we will always be Raider Strong,” the superintendent said.

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