NEWNAN, Ga. — A community is shaken and a family crushed after two teen brothers were killed in a car accident in Coweta County.
Newnan High School identified the brothers as Kahlil and Joshua Royston.
Police said 17-year-old Kahlil was driving on Smokey Road on Sunday, after leaving church, when he lost control of the car he was driving and hit two trees. 16-year-old Joshua was sitting in the front passenger seat. The Georgia State Patrol said Kahlil was speeding, he veered off the road, his car went airborne and it hit two trees.
Joshua died at the scene. Kahlil suffered brain injuries and died at Atlanta Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Their father, Kevin Royston, the pastor of OutReach Church in Newnan, had been asking for prayers, for a miracle for Kahlil to recover.
He posted the tragic news of his passing today on Facebook, asking the community to “pray for our strength.”
The brothers’ classmates from Newnan High School have been leaving flowers and tears amidst the wreckage at the crash site, just five miles away from the school.
“I just loved Josh, I loved Kahlil. I loved both of them,” said Tiah Lee, a Newnan High classmate.
She said Joshua loved music, and was always trying to cheer up other people.
“You could have a bad day, and you come around him and he’d just have the biggest smile,” Lee said. “He just makes you happy. And Kahlil, he was like a big brother to all of us.”
The State Patrol is continuing to investigate the accident and will determine whether there was anything wrong with the car to see if that might have been a factor.
Pastor Royston wrote on Facebook that, while his family struggles with their loss, another miracle has occurred. Kahlil was an organ donor, and has the opportunity to save the lives of others, even in death.