ATLANTA — The father of two Dacula High School students who died in a Friday morning car crash spoke only with Channel 2 Action News Saturday afternoon. He thanked the community for their support while the family mourns the loss of the two teenagers.
Jared Brown, 17, and his brother Jaison Brown, 15, died Friday after a crash on Highway 316 and Harbins Road.
"I did not expect it to be as overwhelming as it has been," said Paul Brown, the boys' father. "It's made things a lot easier to bare."
Paul Brown said he and his wife have been "hanging in there" since they got the news early Friday morning that Jared Brown had passed away and Jaison was suffering life-threatening injuries.
Students who knew the brothers gathered at Gwinnett Medical Center's chapel late Friday night and into the early morning hours Saturday in hopes of seeing Jaison recover. At the Dacula High School campus Friday night, students gathered at the football field for a vigil in Jared Brown's honor.
Jared Brown died shortly after arriving at Gwinnett Medical Center Friday morning. Jaison was in critical condition after the crash and was pronounced dead at 8:20 Friday night.
"Jaison was always a fighter," said Paul Brown. "He was a tough little guy."
Gwinnett County police say Jared Brown's Honda Accord turned left onto Harbins Road and into the path of an oncoming PT Crusier around 7 a.m. Jaison was in the passenger seat. Jared Brown received his driver's license in June last year and had been driving the same route to school since February, according to his father.
"They were really good kids," said Paul Brown. "They made us proud, they did well in school, well in sports and they were kind of like child mentors to their classmates."
Paul Brown said Jared Brown excelled academically and wanted to become an engineer, while Jaison hoped to pursue a career in sports medicine.
"They did everything together," said Paul Brown. "They were inseparable."
The brothers shared a love for soccer that they picked up from their father, who also used to play. Paul Brown said Jared Brown and Jaison lived with their little sister and their parents inside of a Lawrenceville house that will be drastically different.
"It's a huge void," said Paul Brown. "There were five of us in the house, now it's going to be three. Two empty rooms."
The Dacula community plans to honor Jared Brown and Jaison during a Saturday night football game on campus. Attendees have been encouraged to wear brown.
Meanwhile, family continues to fly in from different parts of the country to console the brothers' parents and turn to faith as they prepare to move forward.
"I have no doubt that they're up above looking down on us," said Paul Brown.