Hahnville High School’s Friday football game has been cancelled after four students from Vandebilt Catholic, who was to serve as the Tigers’ homecoming opponent, were killed in an automobile accident.
Two of the students, T.J. Cantrelle, 17, and Ian Haydel, 15, were members of Vandebilt Catholic’s football team. Cantrelle was the team’s starting quarterback, while Haydel was a safety. The two other students that were killed include Megan Hitt and Gabrielle Herbert, both 17.
The bodies of the four students were found inside a 2008 Ford King Ranch that was found submerged in a canal between Bayou Blue and Coteau roads at about 1:45 p.m. According to the Houma Courier, Cantrelle, who was driving the truck, sent a text at 1 a.m. Sunday morning alerting family members that the group was close to home.
When the teens failed to appear, the parents began their own search.
Authorities say that the truck, which was heading west on La. 182, ran off the road in a slight right-hand curve, crossed the oncoming lane, then crashed through a guard rail and plunged upside down in St. Louis Canal.
“We sympathize with Vandebilt Catholic,” Hahnville head coach Lou Valdin said. “We lost an athlete over the summer, so we can understand the pain they are feeling.”
Valdin was referring to 17-year-old basketball player De’Vante Alexander, who was found unresponsive at practice and later died from a congenital heart defect.
Hahnville’s game with Vandebilt Catholic will not be rescheduled, but the school will still hold its homecoming festivities this week. The king and queen will be crowned on Thursday night and the dance will be held on Saturday, according to schools spokeswoman Regina McMillan.
The homecoming court will be introduced at halftime of Hahnville’s Oct. 29 game against St. Amant.
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