Tulsa schools mourn students and staff after fatal crash in Kansas on Sunday

Four people from Tulsa and Union Public Schools — including two students and a staff member, and a former coach — died in a crash over the weekend in Kansas, according to school officials.

Tulsa Public Schools said a student, Donald “DJ” Laster, who attended Booker T. Washington High School, Ja’mon Gilstrap, a staff member who worked in the transportation department, and Wayne Walls, a former Carver Middle School coach and teacher, were killed in the crash.

Next Story: Community remembers Talala man killed in Kansas crash as loving father, coach, friend

What Happened?

Officials with TPS said the students were returning home from a youth basketball tournament when the crash happened. The collision occurred on U.S. Highway 169 around 5:45 p.m., about three miles northeast of Greeley, Kansas.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Gilstrap was driving the vehicle carrying the Tulsa and Union students and staff southbound on U.S. Highway 169 when he attempted to pass a slower-moving vehicle by entering the northbound lanes. A northbound vehicle swerved toward the shoulder to avoid a collision, as did Gilstrap, but the two vehicles ultimately crashed head-on on the northbound shoulder.

According to CBS affiliate WIBW, four other people died in the two-car collision, and a fifth was transported to a nearby hospital.

Who died in the crash?

VEHICLE 1 - Information via the Kansas Highway Patrol

Jaimon D. Gilstrap, 33, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kyron Gilstrap, 14, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Donald Laster, 14, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Wayne T. Walls, 41, of Talala, Oklahoma.

1. 15-year-old boy of Talala, Oklahoma, suffered minor injuries

VEHICLE 2

Alexander R. Ernst, 37, of Ames, Iowa.

John D. Elliott, 76, of Chesterfield, Missouri.

Madalyn N. Elliott, 33, of Chesterfield, Missouri.

Norleen L. Elliott, 69, of Chesterfield, Missouri.

Statement From Tulsa Public Schools On Kansas Crash

Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson said that the district is praying for the families of those lost.

"Many branches of our Tulsa Public Schools family are in mourning today. In a car accident in Kansas on Sunday, we lost a young man who attended Booker T Washington High School, a friend and colleague who served for years at Carver Middle School, and a key contributor from our Transportation team. Our community lost friends, brothers, sons, and fathers.

I am heartbroken for those who lost loved ones, and committed to honoring the immense collective impact each of these people had in Tulsa and in the lives of our young people. I am praying for their families and everyone involved, and hope others will continue to come alongside our students, team members, and families who are hurting."

Statement From Union on Kansas Crash

Union Public Schools confirmed that one of its students died in the crash as well, but that student has not been publicly identified. Union released the following statement:

"It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share the news of the tragic passing of one of our 9th grade students who died in a car accident yesterday. On behalf of the entire Union Public Schools community, I extend our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, and loved ones.

"We have activated our crisis response team and are providing additional counseling resources at the Union Freshman Academy and across the district. Licensed counselors, school psychologists, and support staff are available to meet with anyone who may need help processing this tragedy.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family, and everyone affected by this tragic event."

Ron Horton, a teacher at Booker T. Washington High School who taught Laster, says he was friendly and a hard worker.

"I've taught a number of students who've moved on to D1, even the NFL, and there is a thing about them, and that is they work as hard at the academics as they do at their sport," said Horton. "That was D.J."

Grief counselors are available for students and staff.