Fayetteville, North Carolina – What began as an evening drive meant to celebrate a birthday ended in unimaginable tragedy when three teenage boys lost their lives in a horrific crash on Rosehill Road. The accident, which occurred on the night of October 8, 2025, has left the entire community of Fayetteville grieving.
According to investigators, 21-year-old Dymond Nekiya Monroe was driving a 2024 Honda Civic with three teenage passengers — Trevor Merritt, 17, Nicholas Williams, 17, and Jai’Hyon Elliott, 18. All three boys were students and football players at E.E. Smith High School. The group was reportedly heading to a surprise birthday party for Monroe’s younger brother, who also played for the same team.
Authorities say Monroe and her sister, 19-year-old Destini Rhinada Genwright, were allegedly racing each other at the time of the crash. Investigators described the incident as a “willful speed competition” on a stretch of road where the speed limit was 45 miles per hour. Both vehicles were reportedly traveling close to 90 miles per hour moments before the collision.
As Monroe’s car approached a curve on Rosehill Road, she lost control. The vehicle veered off the road, struck a telephone pole, continued down a sidewalk, and then slammed into a tree with devastating force. The impact was so severe that it instantly claimed the lives of all three teenage passengers.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene within minutes. Responders found Monroe critically injured and quickly arranged for her to be airlifted to a hospital in Chapel Hill. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the three young men were pronounced dead at the scene. Monroe remains in recovery and faces serious criminal charges related to the incident.
Investigators later confirmed that Monroe has been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, as well as speeding, reckless and careless driving, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. Her sister, Destini Genwright, turned herself in several days later and was charged with willful speed competition, speeding, reckless driving, and an insurance violation. She was released on a $10,000 bond.
The crash has deeply shaken the Fayetteville community, particularly E.E. Smith High School, where the three victims were known for their athletic ability, leadership, and bright futures. Students, teachers, and teammates gathered at the school’s football field to honor their memory, holding a candlelight vigil filled with prayers, tears, and tributes.
In the days following the tragedy, a growing memorial of flowers, jerseys, and handwritten notes has taken shape near the crash site on Rosehill Road. Friends and classmates have spent hours there, reflecting on the lives lost too soon and sharing stories that capture the boys’ friendship and spirit.
The Cumberland County School District released a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss, offering condolences to the families and counseling to students. “We mourn together as one family,” the statement read. “Their memory will remain forever a part of our school.”
As the investigation continues, Fayetteville police are urging drivers to remember the dangers of speeding and reckless competition on public roads. For three families, and an entire community, the cost of that night’s decisions will never be forgotten.