L-K sisters killed in auto collision

Shantey and Adryanna Hawkins were killed on Saturday when the car they were traveling in collided with a log truck just after 7 a.m. The collision occurred on Hwy 125 in front of the high school. Adryanna was a freshman and Shantey was a sophomore at Linden-Kildare High School. Their mother, Gwen, was also in the accident and is currently in the hospital in Texarkana.

On Saturday a statement was issued on Facebook, “It is with great sadness we report that we lost two precious LK students today… Our hearts are grieving for these students and their families. Please join us in keeping them at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers as we all attempt to cope with this sudden and tragic loss.”

“Linden-Kildare CISD will make counselors available to anyone in their school community. These counselors have been assigned to the high school, but will remain in place for as long as needed and will offer their support to any of district’s students and staff members.

“As a community, we ask you to extend your love and support to the Hawkins family. This tragedy impacts our community as a whole, including those at Linden-Kildare CISD who cared deeply for Shantey and Adryanna. Please continue to lift these families in your thoughts and prayers.”

Since then, L-K’s superintendent Keri Winters has given an update to the Sun that they have several counselors and clergy assigned at the high school and will be available for all school district personnel as well. Winters says that they “have canceled the varsity girls basketball games for this week, but haven’t made a decision yet on the remainder of the season. All other events will still take place at all other campuses.”

Principal, Shekita Martin, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two of our students: Shantey and Adryanna Hawkins. These two young ladies were the epitome of the model student. They were kind, loving, and sweet and will be truly missed by the entire student body and staff. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family.”

“It is a blessing in this profession to get to know and love so many kids. Our school and community are heartbroken over the loss of these two precious students. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from other area school districts. We ask that you please continue to pray for the family during this difficult time,” said Winters.

Family and friends have come together in this difficult time.

The family organized a balloon release Sunday at 2:30 p.m. where there was a good turn out there.

A number of people have wished the family well and offered prayers and support on social media. A Go-FundMe page has been set up to help the family with their needs in this difficult time.

Shantey and Adryanna were headed to the school to get on a bus to go to the Harleton Tournament. The investigation is currently being investigated by the Highway State Patrol Trooper Ethan Sartor who said there no information is being released at this time due to the sensitive nature of the accident and out of respect to the families. However, Sartor did say that the log truck was not carrying any freight at the time of the accident. He also said since it was Saturday, there were no school zone lights running. There are no signal lights at the location of the accident.

According to the Department of Public Safety, “the two-vehicle accident happened at 7:23 a.m. Saturday on Farm-to-Market Road 125, four miles southeast of Linden, the Texas Department of Public Safety reports.”

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the sisters’ mother, 42-year-old Linden resident Gwendolyn Louise Spignor-Leaks, was driving a 2012 Dodge Charger southeast on FM-125 and trying to turn left into the school parking lot when the collision occurred,” said Sgt. Jean M. Dark, of the Texas Highway Patrol.

“Spignor-Leaks turned in front of a northwest-bound 1974 Kenworth log truck driven by Timothy Dale Davis, 61, of Bivins,” Dark says in a statement about the accident.

“One of the sisters was taken to Christus St. Michael in Atlanta, Texas, and the other was taken to Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, authorities report,” according to Dark from the same release.