Context:

A tragic head-on collision on a two-lane highway in rural eastern Kansas resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including two high school students, a former teacher-coach, and a school employee from Oklahoma. The crash occurred on U.S. 169 near Greeley, Kansas, with the vehicles bursting into flames upon impact, leaving only one survivor who was hospitalized. Among the deceased were members associated with Tulsa Public Schools, including Donald 'DJ' Laster, a high school student, Wayne Walls, a former coach and teacher, and Ja’mon Gilstrap, a transportation team member. The crash had a profound impact on the Tulsa community, with superintendents expressing their sorrow and offering support to those affected. The highway remained closed for four hours as investigators worked to determine the cause of the collision, with authorities emphasizing the severe damage as both vehicles were completely burned.

Dive Deeper:

• The fatal crash occurred on a rural two-lane highway outside Greeley, Kansas, involving a head-on collision that resulted in both vehicles catching fire and causing the death of eight people.

• The victims included notable members of the Tulsa community: Donald 'DJ' Laster, a student-athlete from Booker T. Washington High School, Wayne Walls, a former coach and teacher, and Ja’mon Gilstrap, a member of the Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team.

• DJ Laster was remembered fondly by his teacher Ron Horton as a standout student-athlete who was admired for his friendliness and ability to make others feel at ease, marking him as a special individual in the school community.

• The incident prompted responses from Tulsa Public Schools and Union Public Schools, with crisis response teams and counseling services offered to support grieving students and staff.

• The crash site was under investigation to determine the cause, with Kansas Highway Patrol indicating significant damage as both vehicles were completely burned, and the highway was closed for several hours post-collision.