Community Responds to Fatal Van Crash

CANTON � Friends, family, and others are responding after 15-year-old Quitman ISD student Skylar Carpenter was killed in a rollover accident in Van Zandt County Thursday afternoon. Counselors from school districts around the area were at Quitman High School Friday to help students deal with the loss. Members of the Quitman community held a youth prayer gathering Friday night.

Reports indicate a teacher, Debra Holcombe, was driving a suburban with 6 students to an FFA event in San Antonio when it happened. They were southbound on Farm Road 17 just north of Interstate 20, outside Canton. Mrs. Holcombe drifted off the right side of the road and overcorrected, sending the vehicle into a roll. Skylar was ejected from the SUV and killed. Her mom is the assistant principal of Quitman High School, and her dad is the Vice President of the school board. Three students were taken to Tyler�s Mother Frances Hospital for treatment. Erica Blalock was critically injured and was airlifted to Mother Frances. She is said to be in critical condition. The driver and two other students were uninjured.