A devastating tragedy has shaken the Climax Springs School District and the entire community of Missouri after a horrific crash on Friday evening, February 21. The accident claimed the lives of four individuals, including three young high school graduates who were heading home after watching a basketball game at their alma mater.
The accident occurred around 8 p.m. when a 49-year-old man driving a 2025 Toyota Corolla ran a stop sign on U.S. Highway 54. His vehicle was struck by an eastbound GMC Terrain, driven by a 38-year-old man. The collision was so intense that both cars were thrown off course, sending the Corolla crashing into a fence and a tree.
The driver of the GMC died at the scene, along with three young passengers in the Corolla—Ava Wolfe, Jayden Butterfield, and Violet Corado. The three were recent graduates of Climax Springs School District, full of dreams and potential, and beloved by those who knew them.
The Climax Springs School District expressed the depth of their sorrow in a heartfelt post on Facebook, mourning the loss of these bright young lives.
“Last evening, after attending an away basketball game, three recent Climax Springs graduates were involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident,” school district officials wrote.
“Ava and Jayden were both beloved employees of the district, who dedicated their time and talent to our students each day. As students, all of these individuals left a legacy within our school.”
The district also announced that grief counselors would be available on Monday and Tuesday for students and staff struggling with the sudden loss.
“As the families and our community grieve the loss of lives which held many great things ahead of them, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers,” the post concluded.
A Future That Will Never Be
The tragedy is even more heartbreaking knowing the dreams these young individuals carried.
Violet Corado, one of the victims, had aspirations of becoming a high school English teacher. In a senior spotlight posted in May, she had shared her hopes of shaping young minds and making a difference in the classroom.
For Ava Wolfe, the excitement of new beginnings had been cut tragically short. Just one day before the crash, she had purchased her dream car, a Ford Bronco, a symbol of her fresh start in adulthood.
“Just yesterday, Ava was here, filled with joy and excitement as she drove home in her Bronco,” wrote Maples Ford, the dealership where she had made the purchase. “To now be facing this heartbreaking loss is truly unimaginable.”
For Jayden Butterfield, basketball had been a passion that filled years of memories. Her mother, Ashley Butterfield, shared an emotional Facebook post back in February 2022, reflecting on the years she had watched her daughter and her teammates grow.
“Watching these girls grow up, do what they love, laughing and cheering each other through tough games, always lifting each other up—it has come to an end,” she wrote. “Many basketball camps, summer leagues, hundreds and hundreds of hours in practice, after-game meals, and pregame talks… It’s all over. I just blinked, and it’s over.”
“Jayden, you are one hell of an athlete, and I’m so lucky I’ve been fortunate enough to follow you around all these years,” she added. “I would do it all over and over again.”