By Jonah Taylor / The News-Commercial – Special to The Prentiss Headlight

One of two car crashes on Highway 84 west of Collins December 4 has claimed the life of a local 16-year-old girl.

Kaylan Ainsworth of Collins was extracted from her car and airlifted to Forrest General Hospital where she later died from her injuries.

Just minutes earlier in that same area, an accident occurred involving a pickup carrying diesel driven by Aron Pope, 41, and a vehicle driven by Kristi Smith, 29.

Responders say Keith Fox, 38, had stopped the flat bed truck he was driving in the highway because of the accident across the median. That’s when officials say Ainsworth topped the hill and crashed into the back of Fox’s truck, which is owned by Speights Cash & Carry.  Ainsworth’s 13-year-old sister was also in the car but survived.

All others sustained injuries.

The daughter of Chris Ainsworth and Tanya Magee, Kaylan Reid Ainsworth was an 11th grader at Prentiss Christian School. There she was a cheerleader and softball player. She was also an active member of Cold Springs Baptist Church in Collins. Funeral services were held Saturday at Cold Springs Baptist Church and concluded at Lone Star Cemetery.

In honor of Ainsworth’s 17th birthday on December 8, family, friends and peers gathered at Prentiss Christian School for a moment of reflection and prayer. Afterwards, those attending released hundreds of balloons into the air in memory of the girl who was known by those around her as KK.