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Four Harmony High School students were riding in a 1996 Jeep Cherokee around 2 a.m. Sunday when a 1994 Geo Tracker moved into the southbound lane and struck the Jeep head on, Department of Public Safety trooper Chris Callaway said.

Alcohol was involved for both vehicles, Callaway said.

No skid marks were found on U.S. Highway 271 where the accident happened, so Callaway said there was no way to determine if the cars were adhering to the 65 mph speed limit.

"It was pretty horrible," he said. "There was front-end damage all the way back into the passenger area."

The students, two 17-year-old males, a 14-year-old male and a 16-year-old female, and the man driving the Geo, a male who hasn't been identified because he was not carrying a driver license, were all transported to Tyler hospitals.

The male students suffered broken bones and some facial injuries and the female is in a drug-induced coma because of brain swelling and has a fractured spine, Callaway said. The male in the Geo has his spleen removed and he had massive internal bleeding.

All remain in Mother Frances Hospital except one of the 17-year-old boys, who is in East Texas Medical Center.

Names of those involved are not being released pending the notification of the man without a license's next-of-kin.

Sara Foley covers Upshur, Cherokee & Rusk counties. She can be reached at 903.596-6266.
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