What was supposed to be a fun and memorable field trip turned into a tragic story.

At 9:30 a.m. on August 28, Holbrook Indian School students in Arizona were on their way to Window Rock for a field trip, when a semi-tractor-trailer crashed and hit their school bus from behind, causing the bus to collide with a van in front of it. 

According to the State Department of Public Safety, the accident happened on Interstate 40 near Sanders, around 55 miles east of Holbrook. 

Of the 19 people in the bus, six were injured and one was left dead. 

Police said that traffic had been stalled by an earlier crash on the interstate.

The victim killed during the crash was a 17-year-old girl, Kiarra Alma Gordon, from Wide Ruins Navajo Nation. She was identified by a relative, her aunt, Falonna Ashley. Falonna shared that her niece “had a beautiful soul.” She said that Kiarra just turned 17 last July 26, loved volleyball, was a joy to her family and friends, and that she was “focused on education and was thinking about what to do after high school.” She left three younger brothers behind.

Six other injured students were rushed to a hospital.

The school shared their grief in a statement, “We ask that you would be patient and respectful as we work through this as a school community, and we solicit your prayers on behalf of everyone impacted by this tragedy.” 

The family and school are also asking for prayers for everyone who has been affected by the tragedy. Mourners have expressed sympathy to Kiarra’s family through Facebook posts. The family is also accepting monetary donations to help them with expenses.

Authorities are still currently investigating the incident.