Two 18-year-old Brookhaven High School football players were killed Tuesday night in a car accident.

Deputy Coroner Ricky Alford reported Shaquan Richardson and Javonta Dickey were involved in a motor vehicle accident around 9:45 p.m. on Union Street near 914 Union Street in Brookhaven.

The Brookhaven Fire Department used the jaws-of-life to pry open the rear driver’s side door.

Richardson was pronounced dead on the scene, and Dickey was transported to Kings Daughters Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead, according to Alford.

Brookhaven Police Chief Bobby Bell said Richardson and Javonta’s 2008 Ford F-150 was hit by 18-year-old Charles W. Acy’s 2003 Hummer. Bell said Acy was unconscious when officers arrived on the scene but awoke and was taken to KDMC where he was released.

Bell said Acy is being charged with driving with a suspended license, driving with no proof of liability insurance and two counts of DUI vehicle accident causing injury or death.

“They were good kids, always smiling always positive,” said BHS principal David Martin. “Inside of school outside of school, didn’t matter they were two good guys.”

It was a solemn day at BHS. A dark shadow hung over the heads of students, faculty, staff and administration.

“We just want to be sure that the family knows we are here to do what little we can,” said Superintendent Ben Cox. “At times like this it’s hard to know what to do or how to reach out to people, but we want them to know that their sons were an important part of not just the high school but the entire school district.”

The two young men were senior football players with the Ole Brook football team. The support of the Brookhaven community has been splashed across Facebook, showing the intense impact of the incident on the entire city.

“We are saddened by the loss of two members of the Ole Brook family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Richardson and Dickey families,” said BHS football coach Tommy Clopton. “This is a very difficult time for all of Ole Brook but especially for those two families and for the Brookhaven High students that called Shaquan and Javonta friend and teammate.”

The school came together early Wednesday morning to pray and grieve together. Martin said when he received the call last night, he immediately began contacting youth ministers, priest, preachers and grief councilors to be present at the school before students entered the building and throughout the day.

“We want to let the family know they are in our thoughts and prayers and that those kids had a very positive impact here and will be truly missed by faculty, staff and students,” said Martin.

The BHS senior class has organized a prayer rally for Wednesday afternoon on the football field. Martin said they wanted to come up with a way for the entire school to come together and pray.

“Thank you to everyone that has expressed their support, prayers and encouragement,” said Clopton.