JACKSON Tenn (March 27, 2017) – Stuart Hirstein, Head of School, issued a statement to parents and faculty regarding the death of Jillian and Jacob Crenshaw, students at the school. They and their parents, Joseph and Jennifer Crenshaw, were killed Saturday in a single plane crash in Blount county Alabama. The family was returning home from Kissimmee Florida.
The statement reads;
“Dear USJ families,
Our school community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of the Crenshaw family.Yesterday (Saturday), we lost 10th-grade student Jacob and 8th grader Jillian, along with their parents Joseph and Jennifer, in an accident as they were returning from a spring break trip to Florida.We wanted to make you aware that we will have our counsellors Debbie Anton and Laura Moore, plus area youth pastors and counsellors on campus in the coming days to comfort our students and faculty as they face this sudden loss.
At USJ, we are a family, and we will bear this burden together. We ask that you make us aware of any needs you or your children may have during this time of grief.”
The plane, a Cessna T210L, crashed Saturday afternoon in Blount county Alabama around 2:33 p.m. According to FAA and NTSB officials, they will be investigating the cause of the crash and trying to determine why the plane’s wings separated from the fuselage in mid-flight.
There are three crash debris sites including a heavily wooded area where the body of the plane went down.
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Officials say weather conditions, pilot status, and flight logs will all be part of the investigation to determine what exactly happened.
Birmingham Air Traffic Control officials confirmed they received a mayday call from the plane but then lost contact.
USJ, Head of School Stuart Hirstein says, in addition to counsellors at the campus, the school will provide a list of outside support for those families who may need them.
On Sunday afternoon USJ students, family, and faculty gathered at the flagpole front of the school for a prayer and remembrance of the Crenshaw family.
By Keith Sherley, Twitter; @keithsherley Email; [email protected]
