Three E.E. Smith High School football players killed in Fayetteville, NC crash; Community mourns
Fayetteville grieves after deadly Rosehill Road crash claims three teenage athletes from E.E. Smith High School
Fayetteville, North Carolina, is reeling after a devastating single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of three teenage football players from E.E. Smith High School and left a fourth person critically injured late Wednesday night. The tragedy unfolded on October 8, along Rosehill Road—a winding stretch of pavement that locals say has taken too many lives before.
Authorities confirmed that the crash occurred just before 10:50 p.m. in the 2700 block of Rosehill Road. According to Fayetteville Police Department reports, the vehicle—its make and model not yet disclosed—veered off the roadway, rolled down an embankment, and collided violently with a tree. All four occupants were either ejected or trapped inside the wreckage.
Three of the young men were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth occupant, initially believed to be another student, was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The fourth occupant was later proven to not be another student. Police have not released any of their names pending family notifications. However, within hours, the tight-knit community around E.E. Smith High School confirmed what no one wanted to believe—these were the Golden Bulls’ own.
A Community Shattered
By sunrise, the atmosphere around Fayetteville had shifted from disbelief to heartbreak. The E.E. Smith campus, known for its deep athletic tradition and multigenerational alumni pride. Now, the school has become the source of heartbreak, given tonight’s shocking news.
Fayetteville Police confirmed that their Traffic Unit is investigating but declined to speculate on what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway. Weather conditions were clear, and no other vehicles were involved. Detectives are exploring all angles, including speed, distraction, or potential mechanical issues. The department urged anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at (910) 483-8477.
Road closures stretched overnight as police reconstructed the scene, shutting down Rosehill Road between Ramsey Street and Country Club Drive. The road reopened early Thursday morning, but the emotional impact will linger far longer.
Echoes of Past Heartbreak
For Fayetteville, this tragedy reopens old wounds. E.E. Smith has endured similar heartbreak before. In 2005, two of the school’s athletes died in a crash during a team trip to Alabama, a story that left a scar still felt today. Now, twenty years later, another generation is facing the same pain.
Rosehill Road, where Wednesday night’s accident occurred, has long been known among locals as dangerous. Over the past five years, multiple serious crashes—including a 2023 head-on collision and a 2022 rollover—have drawn calls for better lighting and safety barriers. Residents have repeatedly warned that the sharp embankments and narrow lanes can turn deadly after dark.
One Facebook commenter, reacting to the news, summed it up bluntly: “That road’s a killer. We’ve begged the city to fix it.”
“Praying for the Families:” Anthony Powell’s Post
The first wave of public awareness didn’t come from official news outlets—it came from a Facebook post. Fayetteville content creator and E.E. Smith alumnus Anthony Powell, known for his motivational content under the #Teambankz brand, broke the news around 10–11 p.m. Wednesday night.
His post read:
“Praying for the families of the 3 football players from E.E SMITH who lost their lives in a car crash tonight. #Teambankz #checkonyourpeople #rosehillrd #TrafficAlert #prayers.”
Accompanied by praying hands and heart emojis, the post quickly spread through Fayetteville’s social media circles, receiving more than 500 reactions, 100 comments, and over 1,200 shares by Thursday morning.
Comments beneath Powell’s post reflected a wave of shock and solidarity. “Lord, cover those families,” one user wrote. “Those boys were stars on the field,” said another. Many shared photos of their children wearing E.E. Smith jerseys, adding the hashtag #GoldenBullsForever.
Powell followed up with an Instagram Story urging his followers to “check on your people” and drive safely, writing, “Rosehill is dangerous—please slow down.”
For a local creator who built his platform on positivity and community awareness, his words resonated deeply. In Fayetteville, Powell’s post became more than a status update—it became the first public memorial for the fallen athletes.
Social Media Unites in Grief
Across platforms, Fayetteville’s digital community turned into a space of shared mourning overnight. The tragedy trended locally on Facebook and TikTok, with clips of candlelight vigils, old football highlights, and emotional team montages set to gospel instrumentals.
On X (formerly Twitter), tributes poured in from local coaches, sports networks, and alumni.
Coach Matt Morrow of Charlotte Football Insiders wrote:
“Prayers go out to the EE Smith High School Football Team and their families… for the tragic accident where lives were lost.”
New Life Christian Academy coach Aaron Parker echoed the sentiment, adding:
“Prayers to E.E. Smith students and staff and to the families of the young men.”
Local news outlets joined in, with ABC11 and CBS17 confirming the three fatalities and one critical injury. ABC11’s post linking its article drew hundreds of replies and quote tweets from across the state, many simply reading, “Prayers for Fayetteville.”
Meanwhile, TikTok users under the #FayettevilleNC and #GoldenBullsRIP tags shared tribute clips set to Rod Wave’s “Heart on Ice” and Lil Durk’s “The Voice.” Most began with the same line: “No parent should ever have to bury their child.”
“We’re a Family:” E.E. Smith Rallies Together
At E.E. Smith High School, classes are scheduled to continue, just under a heavy cloud on Thursday. Administrators are likely to set up grief counselors for students and staff. Meanwhile, the football team’s coaches are expected to privately meet with players to process the loss.
The school’s athletic department is expected to release an official statement once families approve the victims’ identities for public release. Plans for a memorial service or vigil are already in motion, with several community churches offering to host.
Local businesses, including Fayetteville’s popular spots like Larry’s Southern Kitchen and Golden Bulls Grill, have posted tributes and pledged donations toward funeral costs once official fundraisers launch.
The Investigation Continues
As of Thursday morning, police had not confirmed the cause of the crash. No weather or mechanical issues have been identified, but Rosehill Road’s steep slope and sharp embankments remain under scrutiny. Also, it was a single-vehicle crash.
Traffic investigators were seen mapping the crash site and collecting debris markers through early morning hours. The Fayetteville Police Department’s statement, shared at 1:00 a.m. on Facebook, read simply:
“Rosehill Road remains closed due to a fatal crash investigation. Please keep the affected families in your prayers.”
City officials say safety improvements to Rosehill have been discussed in the past, but funding delays stalled progress. Now, community leaders are demanding change. “If it takes the lives of three young men to fix this road, it’s already too late,” wrote one resident under the city’s Facebook update.
From Tragedy to Unity
What began as a tragedy is quickly transforming into a moment of unity. The outpouring of love in Fayetteville—across social media, churches, and school grounds—shows a city coming together to hold its youth close.
At E.E. Smith, where generations have walked the same halls since the school’s founding in 1927, the pain runs deep. But so does the pride.
One alum’s comment on Anthony Powell’s post captured it best:
“Golden Bulls forever. We cry together, we heal together, and we rise together.”
As the Fayetteville Police Department continues its investigation, the community’s focus has shifted from why it happened to how they’ll remember those lost.
For now, Rosehill Road stands quiet—a stretch of asphalt marked by tragedy, but also by the strength of a city refusing to forget its sons.