Two Copiah-Lincoln Community College students were killed lateMonday night in a one-vehicle accident on Old Highway 51, officialssaid.

Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris said Larry T. Winters andPeyton Culver, both 18-year-old freshmen, were pronounced dead onthe scene.

Winters, a Co-Lin football player, was driving a 1986 BuickLeSabre on Old Highway 51 about a half-mile from the new Brookhavencity limits headed north, McMorris said. The accident happenedaround 10:20 p.m.

“It looked like they were on their way back to Co-Lin,” hesaid.

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said it appears thatWinters lost control of the vehicle.

“It looked like he went off the right side of the road,overcompensated, and the car wound up coming across the road andwent off the left side and hit two trees,” he said.

Winters’ parents are Larry and Gail Winters from Bogue Chitto.Willie and Maebelle Culver of Brookhaven are Culver’s parents.

Rushing said his heart goes out to the families.

“It’s a definite tragedy for the families,” he said. “To losetheir children at such a young age is heartbreaking.”

McMorris agreed.

“It’s a tragedy for both families who lost their sons,” saidMcMorris. “And it’s a tragedy for the whole Co-Lin community, andfor the football team that’s just lost a player, too.”

Winters was a defensive end for the Brookhaven Panthers lastyear. Brookhaven head football coach Tucker Peavy said he was anexceptional player, as well as a good person.

“Larry was a good guy to be around,” said Peavey. “Obviously hewas a good football player. Certainly our thoughts and prayers goto his family.”

Co-Lin head football coach Glenn Davis said the team andcoaching staff were also grieving the loss along with the rest ofthe community.

“You hate to see anyone young like that lose their life,” saidDavis. “They had their whole life ahead of them and it doesn’t seemfair. It makes you want to hug your children.”

In his 2007 high school senior profile, Culver said he would beattending Co-Lin to study carpentry.

Funeral services for Culver are being handled by WilliamsMortuary and are incomplete. Winters’ services have not beenset.