Briarcrest Christian School held a prayer service Monday morning in memory of rising senior students Rachel Lynch and Maddie Kruse. The two teens died in a car accident that occurred around 6 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 78 in Marshall County.
Teens Caroline Kam and Kara Holden were also injured in the wreck, which was allegedly caused when an intoxicated driver rear-ended their vehicle and forced it off the road into a utility pole. Kam’s grandmother was reportedly driving the four girls to the beach.
Melandus Penson, 32, of Belden, Miss. is being held on a $3 million bond and is facing up to 100 years in prison. He is charged with two counts of DUI death and two counts of DUI injury. If convicted, each count carries up to 25 years in prison.
Penson has reportedly been charged with seven DUIs since 2008.
According to Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Joe Miller, the two-vehicle wreck happened near the Marshall-DeSoto County line.
“It’s a tragic loss for the school,” said Briarcrest President Mark Merrill. “Two fine young ladies who are going to be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families.”
