On Saturday, we were all pumped. We had just won the final game before heading to the state championship this coming weekend. That all was quieted down by the news that four more of our students at BCHS were killed in a head on collision in Pineville. The students were on there way to the Christmas Parade in Middlesboro to march with the Junior Airforce ROTC group. I didn't personally know any of the students but I did have Daniel Campbell's sister and brother a couple of years ago. Jonathan was also a student that I had seen around quite often. Daniel and Jonathan both went to Page School Center (where I work). My brother was really hurt overr all of these students, especially Jonathan. The night before the accident, after we won the game, Jonathan came up to Billy and was congratulating him. He was saying all kinds of encouragging things and telling Billy that he had played well. Billy told me that he felt like God was telling him to hug Jon again and so he hugged him for the second time. He sure was glad that he did. Today as he was checking out of school to attend Jon's funeral, mom asked if he really felt like he would be ok. He told her that Jon attended his game to see him play and that the least he could do would be to see him out this final time.
Those students who died in the accident were:
Wesley Ingram (twin brother of Jessica "Nikki" Ingram)
Jessica "Nikki" Ingram (twin sister of Wesley Ingram)
Daniel Campbell
Jonathan Miracle
This was such a saddening event for us here in Bell County. Exactly 11 months ago to the day, we lost 4 other teens in a car crash. How sad! Let's be much in Prayer for our students, faculty, and most importantly, the families who have lost their precious children. I can honestly say that I cannot even fathom this!
(Courtesy of Middlesboro Daily News)Tragedy strikes Bell High again
By Sarah Miracle/Staff Writer
PINEVILLE — The Middlesboro Christmas Parade marched on as scheduled Saturday afternoon, with the Bell County High School Air Force JROTC as one of the participants.
Bell’s JROTC Instructor Lt. Col. Barry Tanner recalls that, however, prior to the parade, he had a strange feeling.
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“I was missing three of my students,” remarked Lt. Col. Tanner. “It wasn’t like those kids not to be there.”
Lt. Col. Tanner tried to put his worries aside and BCHS’s JROTC performed without three of their star cadets. Little did he and his cadets know, those three teens would never perform again.
While in route to the Christmas parade along U.S. Highway 25-E in Pineville, former JROTC cadet and BCHS graduate 18-year-old Jonathan Lee Miracle; current cadets and BCHS students 16-year-old twins Jessica Nicole “Niki” Ingram and Wesley Allen Ingram of Pineville; and 15-year-old Daniel Earl Campbell Smith of Blackmont lost their lives in a fatal car accident.
At 12:51 p.m., Kentucky State Police and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement responded to a call about a two vehicle accident along U.S. 25-E, near the Off Track Betting facility. The 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Miracle was travelling south on U.S. 25-E, while a Peterbilt coal truck driven by 34-year-old Dwight Robinson of Tyner, Ky., was traveling northbound.
Police report that due to the road and weather conditions, Miracle lost control of his vehicle and veered into the northbound lane of traffic, where he collided with the coal truck. All four occupants of the Toyota Yaris sustained fatal injuries.
Miracle was transported to the Pineville Community Hospital after the accident, where Bell County Deputy Coroner Bill Bisceglia later pronounced him dead. The Ingram twins and Campbell were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
“This is the second accident involving Bell County High School students that I have responded to this year,” stated Deputy Coroner Bisceglia.“My heart just goes out to the families and kids at Bell High.”
Facing the aftermath of this tragic incident, BCHS Principal Jeff Saylor has arranged for grief counselors to be available at the school throughout this week.
“I guess what makes this so hard is rejoicing over our football team’s victory Friday night, and now within 24 hours, we’re facing the loss of four young people who meant a lot to the students, this school and the community,” said Principal Saylor. “There’s no rhyme or reason to something like this.”
Bell County School System’s Superintendent George Thompson agreed. “What can I say? This is the second time we’ve suffered a fatal accident involving our students. It doesn’t get any easier. It’s just a tragic and terrible shock and a loss,” stated Thompson. “These children will be sorely missed.”
Thompson and Bisceglia referred to the untimely passing of four former students, all killed in a vehicle accident on Hwy. 92 on January 6. Bell County High School students Shawna McCreary, Stephanie Wilder, Eric Ogan and Wesley Cole perished in that incident.
According to Lt. Col. Tanner, the school will be opening a memorial fund for the students’ funeral costs and the family’s incurred expenses. Details are not yet confirmed, although the accounts will be established at Home Federal Bank.
“They’re going to be missed. We’re talking about kids who were loved for who they were,” commented Lt. Col. Tanner. “These children didn’t have enemies, only friends.”
Tanner also mentioned that the Ingram family wishes to hold a memorial for both Nikki and Wesley at Bell High. However, arrangements are not yet complete or official.
The teens’ full obituaries are listed on page five in this edition of the Middlesboro Daily News.
Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
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