Chapel Hill High mourns second football athlete's death

Chapel Hill, N.C. — For the second time this school year, students at Chapel Hill High are mourning a player on the school football team.

Senior Rodney Torain was the second member of the team to die this year. Torain was killed Sunday when the car in which he was riding crashed into a tree.

Senior Atlas Fraley, 17, died of unknown causes hours after a football scrimmage Aug. 12.

Students began the day Monday with a moment of silence for Torain.

"It was depressing because everyone was so silent. Everybody was crying because he was such a big influence on our school. He was such a happy person and it's just a terrible thing that happened," classmate Amanda Thompson said.

Counselors were at the school to support students and teachers. The school's basketball team, of which Torain was also a member, has canceled a Tuesday contest against Cardinal Gibbons High.

Troopers and agents with the State Bureau of Investigation looked Monday at the scene of the wreck and analyzed the car Torain was in.

Ashley Bynum, 18, told troopers she was driving Torain and Laticia Farrington, 17, when she noticed a car, occupied by several men, was following them closely.

When she tried to turn around, Bynum told troopers, the following car tried to pass, side-swiping her. She over-corrected and ran off the road into a tree.

Bynum and Farrington, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, were treated for their injuries at a hospital and released Sunday.

Torain suffered a head injury and died.

Troopers were looking for the other car, a gold or silver, four-door sedan. It has side-swipe damage on the passenger side. Anyone with tips about the wreck is asked to call 336-570-6809.