18-year-old killed in Person County crash

ROXBORO, North Carolina (WTVD) -- A Person County family is dealing with enormous heartbreak after two violent crashes involving loved ones. The back-to-back accidents happened Sunday night in North Person County.

The first crash happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Allen's Chapel Church Road which is about halfway between Roxboro and the Virginia state line.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says 18-year-old Demari Leo Daye was speeding down the country road and was not wearing a seatbelt. His car flipped over and Daye was thrown from the vehicle and killed.

Troopers says 40-year-old Jeremy Paylor, who is the boyfriend of Daye's mother, was on his way to help when he lost control in a curve and a vehicle coming the other way hit the driver's side door.

It happened just before 8 p.m. in the 500 block of Woodsdale Road, just miles from the scene of the first crash.

Paylor underwent emergency surgery Sunday night. He is receiving care at a Duke University Hospital.

Administrators at Person High School, where Daye was a junior, said they're helping his fellow students cope.

"He'll always be remembered in the classroom. His desk will remain empty," said English teacher Morgan Meyers.

Teachers describe Daye as kind, respectful, and quiet.

"There'se definitely a somberness and kind of a heaviness," said math teacher Jonathan Teneyck.

Administrators and a counselor went to each of Daye's classes to meet with students and help.

"It's not always easy for students at any age level to talk about what's going on," said counselor LaWuite Lipscomb.

Such sadness is also being felt inside a Roxboro restaurant where Daye worked part-time as a dishwasher.

Monday, all of his coworkers were wearing a purple ribbon on their shirts in his honor.

"Everybody working here is family. Everybody knows each other," said La Piazza owner Giovanni Seotti.

Thoughts are with the family that is now coping with the loss of one person while praying for the full recovery of another.

"[It's] tragedy on tragedy," said Seotti. "I feel bad for the family."