The Staunton River community is pulling together as they remember two teenagers who died this week in a car accident.

On Saturday, Jacob Baird was to be a referee at the Harvest Bowl where 9 & 10 and 11& 12 year old boys' football teams will compete. Jacob was one of the victims in Wednesday morning’s accident on Route 24. He was a senior and a football player at Staunton River High School.

Rather than cancel the Harvest Bowl, it has been renamed in Jacob's memory. On this Saturday, as a community mourns and tries to heal, the 1st Annual Jacob Baird Invitational will be played. Photo: Facebook

Many of the young boys will wear the #82 on their helmet, a tribute to Jacob who proudly wore the number on his high school jersey for Staunton River. Jacob’s brother plays on one of the teams.

16-year-old Katie Thurston also died in Wednesday’s accident. Katie was a junior at SRHS and a member of the school’s choir. Plans are underway for a concert in her memory.

The students at SRHS have been wearing the school colors of black and gold and held a vigil on Friday morning on the front lawn of the school to remember Jason and Katie. They also created a Facebook page in their memory.

Funeral services for Jacob Baird will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. with visitation on Saturday evening from 5- 7 p.m.

The two other students injured in Wednesday’s accident, 18-year-old Gradon Graybill and 19-year-old Shawn Hall are recovering from their injuries.

Photo: Facebook page created in Jacob and Katie's memory 

Police said that Jacob was driving a Ford Mustang and was turning onto Route 24 from Route 653 when the car was struck by a pickup truck.

We continue to pray for the families, everyone who was hurt and on the scene of the accident, and the entire Staunton River community.