Holly Springs High School is bringing in extra emotional and mental support onto their campus this week, following the death of one of their students killed in a crash over the weekend.
The 14-year-old was riding a bike early Sunday morning when he was struck by a car on Avent Ferry Road near Holly Meadow Drive. He died at the scene.
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Holly Springs police arrested a 16-year-old Ashton Henry Rahlfs Sunday and charged him with driving while impaired (DWI) in connection with to this crash. Officers were called to Avent Ferry Road near Holly Meadow Drive around 1:40 a.m. for reports of a crash involving two cars and a bicycle.
When officers arrived to the scene, they found the scene involving a 2008 Honda Civic, a 2021 Honda Passport and a bicycle. Rahlfs was driving the Passport.
Preliminary investigation showed that one of the cars hit the 14-year-old bicyclist and then a head-on collision between the two cars happened right after.
The driver of the Civic is believed to be 19-year-old Brandon Russell. According to his mother, Kathy Russell, he is in critical condition after having to be cut out of his car from the crash on Sunday morning.
Kathy Russell told WRAL News that both of Brandon’s arms are broken, his legs badly injured, he has a collapsed lung and broken rib.
The driver of the Civic and one of the passengers in Rahlfs’ car were taken to the hospital.
The teenage bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Holly Springs police did not provide the name of the bicyclist, but said they were a student at Holly Springs High School.
The school sent out a letter to families Sunday afternoon, informing them that one of their 9th graders died on Sunday. They added that other students’ reactions—especially if they might be extreme—to stress and loss are normal, especially if they personally knew the student.
Court documents show that Rahlfs faces several charges including DWI, driving after consuming alcohol under 21-years-old and a driver’s permit time limit violation for driving after 9 p.m. Documents also show officers administered a breath test, finding his BAC at 0.11.











