3 arrested in North Carolina ATV crash that killed 2 high school football players
Officials now say that alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, and are accusing adults of providing alcohol to minors. Authorities initially said alcohol wasn't a factor.
Three people have been arrested in connection with a North Carolina ATV crash that killed two teenage boys.
High school football players Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo both died in a four-wheeler crash in Transylvania County on Aug. 25. The teens were driving a 2015 Polaris Sportsman when they ran off the road and hit a tree while navigating a curve.
Alcohol is now believed to be a factor in the ATV crash, North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesperson William Happoldt told Paste BN.
Ashley Marie Darity of Rosman was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter in connection to the crash, according to Happoldt. Her bail was set at $20,000, and her disposition hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, court records show.
Darity, 34, is accused of providing the teens with alcohol, though state highway patrol initially said no alcohol was involved and cited excessive speed as the cause of the crash, according to the Transylvania Times.
Darity's attorney, Matthew Schofield, declined to comment on behalf of his client on Monday.
Two others also arrested in hosting underage drinking party
North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement officers have also arrested Balsam Grove residents Brandon Kaine Rathbone, 47, and Patricia Faye Whitehead, 33. Both are charged with aiding and abetting the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21. Their bail was set for $500.
An arrest warrant for Rathbone states the two hosted an underage house party where they allegedly provided a 15-year-old with a malt beverage. They also "held the juvenile up to assist (them) in doing a keg stand," a drinking game where someone does a headstand while consuming alcohol.
Happoldt said their arrests were in connection with the investigation but did not provide more specifics. Rathbone's date of offense is listed as June 10, 2023 and Whitehead's as Feb. 14, 2023, both over a year before the crash.
Paste BN was working to determine the attorneys representing both Rathbone and Whitehead.
What's the truth? Sign up for Paste BN's Checking the Facts newsletter for all the answers.
Community reels from 'unimaginable loss'
Layne and Jayden were both students and football players at Rosman High School, part of the Transylvania County Schools district.
In an Aug. 25 statement, Superintendent Lisa Fletcher called the crash a "devastating accident" that struck the community with an "unimaginable loss."
"The loss of such young, vibrant lives is a stark reminder of how precious life is and how deeply we are all connected," Fletcher wrote.
Following the tragedy the Rosman High School community held an "orange out" at an Aug. 30 home football game against North Henderson, where fans wore orange to show unity and support, according to the Hendersonville Times-News, part of the Paste BN Network.
Contributing: Saleen Martin