Five teenagers were pronounced dead Monday morning after four of them got off their shifts at the local Texas Roadhouse and went to get fast food.
The teenagers, all of whom were between 18 and 19, were driving in a black Kia sedan at some point between 10.30pm Sunday night and 4am Monday morning, when they apparently lost control of the vehicle.
Fort Myers police rushed to the scene off Interstate 75 early Monday morning, after the teenagers’ parents started to call the station concerned that their children never returned home, and found the Kia submerged in a retention pond.
Officers tried performing life saving measures, police announced, but the teenagers were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Four of the teenagers have been identified as Amanda Ferguson, Eric Cox, Breanna Coleman and Jackson Eyre — all of whom worked together Sunday night at the Texas Roadhouse.
The fifth victim was identified as Jesus Salinas, Coleman’s boyfriend, NBC 2 reports.
Five teenagers were killed overnight Sunday when they apparently lost control of their vehicle, which was found submerged in a retention pond off of Interstate 75 early Monday morning
Two of the victims have been identified as Breanna Coleman and Eric Cox
Also killed were Amanda Ferguson and Jackson Eyre. All four worked at the Fort Myers Texas Roadhouse together
Alan Hansen, a market partner for nine Texas Roadhouses in Florida, told the Fort Myers News-Press that all four of the teens were working Sunday night either as hosts or manning the to-go station.
A few of them had gotten off their shifts early, but came back to pick up their friends and to head out to get fast food.
It is unclear whether the crash occurred before they were able to get their fast food or on their way back.
Hansen said the chain has now brought in a grief counselor and held a dinner for the friends and families of the employees Monday night as the local steakhouse remained closed to the public.
‘We’re allowing ourselves to grieve and move forward,’ he said, describing the teenagers as ‘leaders in our restaurant’ who ‘knew how to be great examples.’
Hansen is also planning to build a permanent memorial for the fallen staff members inside the chain restaurant, as friends, family and coworkers gathered Monday afternoon to create a makeshift memorial outside the Texas Roadhouse — where a flag hung at half staff.
‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of four of our Roadies,’ the restaurant said in a statement posted to Facebook.
‘Our team is grieving alongside their families and friends. We appreciate the support of our Fort Myer community during this difficult time.’
The Texas Roadhouse released a statement saying the team is grieving their losses
Friends described the victims as ambitious and hard working.
Eyre, for example, had just graduated from South Fort Myers High School and was set to attend Fort Myers Technical College in the fall. He had hoped to become a professional welder.
His father, Willie Eyre, is a former major league relief pitcher who coaches the high school baseball team.
‘Jackson embraced so many people, and now we need to embrace his memory,’ the baseball team posted on Instagram.
‘Anytime someone passes, we lose a little bit of who we are. It hurts even more when it’s one of our own,’ the team continued. ‘We ask everyone in the community to pray for his family and friends, as we go through this impossibly difficult time together.’
Cox, 19, had also just graduated from East Lee High School and had plans to become a firefighter, his father told NBC 2.
Amanda Ferguson, meanwhile, was attending school to become a teacher, her aunt wrote on Facebook.
‘It breaks my heart, my niece was one of the teens in the car,’ Michael Noland wrote. ‘We are crushed as a family, people always say you have to be strong, well I’m trying, I cannot right now.’
Ibrahim Shaw, one of their co-workers also told WINK News: ‘For it to happen so close to us and kids this young who just graduated school, like their lives are barely just getting started and to have it taken away this soon is really, really unfortunate.
‘They loved everyone around them. They loved their friends, family, and I know now they’re looking down on us hoping that we do better for them and keep on pushing forward in life.’
