Crash Claims Two Lives

The car carrying the two teens
slammed into a tree, killing
both boys.

A car slammed into a tree Sunday night in Columbia County, taking two young lives. Now family and friends are left mourning the teenagers who died.

The news of the deadly crash spread quickly among friends and family in the Benton area.

So many people knew the two boys who died in the crash Sunday night. Counselors were available all day Monday at Benton Area High School for students or anyone who needed to talk.

Those who knew the young men showed up along Waller Road outside of Benton. They saw the skid marks through a lawn and the spot where Brian O'Handley, 17, and Jeremiah Cedeno, 18, lost their lives.

Police said the car carrying the teens plowed into a tree, killing both boys. Investigators said speeding was likely involved.

"We have two young lives lost, very likeable, energetic. Two young men who had a lot of friends and to just see them gone is hard. It's hard for everyone," said Benton Area High School principal Joe Goode. "We're a small community. We only graduate 47 kids a year. Everyone knows everyone else and we do what we can here at the community, here at the school to help people here in the community."

He added it has been a rough day at Benton Area High School.

The school was able to share a photo of Jeremiah Cedeno. He would have been a junior. Brian O'Handley would have been a senior here.Goode said both boys were liked and cared for by so many.


Jeremiah Cedeno would have
been a junior this fall at
Benton Area High School.

"It's difficult when young people are killed. We've been working real hard this morning. We've had some grief counselors come in and had several kids here, helping them sort through the whole process," Goode added. "We have a lot of young people that are really hurting right now. They were very popular, very outgoing very energetic and the energy is going to be missed."

Now many people are mourning and wondering why.

"I didn't find out until this morning on my way to work. It's really hard to grasp. It's still sinking in," said friend Alex Vera. "They won't be forgotten, can't be forgotten. They were both real good guys."

The shock is spreading all over Benton. Two chairs sat empty at a sub shop in town. O'Handley and Cedeno were supposed to be there. They had lunch with their friends there almost every day.

"They were really good guys and would do anything for anyone," said friend Britni Pursel.

"They were real fun. They'd do anything for you. We had a lot of fun together. A lot of different things," said friend Dayton Hess. "It's going to be hard, thinking about it. It's hard to believe."

There will be counselors available at Benton Area High School the next few days.