By Paul Peirce

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012, 12:32 p.m.
Updated: Friday, November 9, 2012

Four Brownsville Area High School students were seriously injured Thursday in a one-car accident along Route 40 in Fayette County.

“It was pure carnage when we arrived on the scene,” said Brownsville fire Chief Clark Sealy.

The identities of the teenagers have not been released by authorities. Brownsville police, the investigating department, has not released any information.

According to classmates and family members, all four are high school athletes.

The injured were identified by sources as Nikko and Tyler Spohn, freshman and senior brothers at the high school; Devin Braddock, a freshman wide receiver on the Falcons' football team; and Shane Roebuck, a sophomore fullback on the football team. The four teens also play baseball.

“All four were ejected. Two young men were lying on the road, one was lying against the Jersey barrier and another was walking around when we rolled up ... ,” Sealy said.

“We started treating them right away. I heard today that all four are stable,” he said.

A Fayette County emergency dispatcher said the accident occurred in the westbound lane of Route 40 in Brownsville Township just before 10 p.m. The vehicle reportedly hit the Jersey barrier before rolling over.

Four emergency medical helicopters were sent to the scene to take the teens for treatment at two Pittsburgh hospitals.

“I bet we had them to the hospitals within 45 minutes, which really was a blessing. I can't say enough about everyone who responded,” the chief said.

The injured were flown to UPMC Presbyterian and to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, according to authorities.

UPMC Presbyterian officials reported Braddock was listed in fair condition. Officials at Children's reported that Nikko Spohn was in fair condition.

Information was not available on the other teens.

Alyssa Grashion, a 17-year-old senior at Brownsville, said everyone at school was very emotional Friday when they learned about the accident.

“Everyone was quiet. They didn't know what to say,” she said. “There was a lot of crying. People are just sad.”

Other students who spoke with reporters outside the high school Friday said they had heard that Tyler Spohn helped the other boys out of the vehicle.

“I really honor him for that one. It's really heroic,” said junior Whitney Ptak.

“People are really upset about it,” she said.

Brownsville Superintendent Philip Savini Jr. said school officials made counselors available to students who needed assistance. He said the victims are highly regarded in the community and school.

“They are all active in sports and clubs. They are leaders in the school,” Savini said.

“I know some of the clubs have gotten together and have agreed to get some funds together to send a get-well or thinking-of-you gift for the students when they are well enough to receive it,” he added.

Staff Writer Mary Pickels contributed to this story. Paul Peirce is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com.

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