FRANKLIN COUNTY, KANSAS — A devastating two-vehicle crash on Sunday evening has left eight people dead and one critically injured, shaking communities across Oklahoma and Kansas. Among the victims were four individuals connected to a youth basketball program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to State Rep. Ron Stewart.
The fatal crash occurred around 5:45 p.m. along U.S. Highway 169 near its intersection with Virginia Road, south of Kansas City. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, both vehicles involved in the collision caught fire upon impact. Authorities confirmed eight fatalities at the scene, and one person was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Though the Kansas Highway Patrol has not formally released the names of the deceased, Rep. Stewart identified four of the victims as members of a Tulsa-based Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball program. Those lost include two youth athletes — Kyrin “Ace” Gilstrap and Donald “DJ” Laster — and two coaches, Jaimon Gilstrap, Kyrin’s father, and Wayne Walls.
“These were exceptional individuals — both on and off the court,” Stewart said. “They were well-connected as people, as coaches, and as students. This loss is deeply felt throughout our community.”
Donald Laster, a freshman at Booker T. Washington High School, had recently helped his team clinch a state basketball title in March. Stewart, who had watched Laster grow both athletically and spiritually, described him as a standout young man who had recently been baptized at their Tulsa church during Easter.
“I got to see him grow even in his spiritual journey as a young man,” Stewart said. “He made choices that any parent would be proud of. I know his parents are proud of him. It’s a mighty blow to lose him.”
Kyrin Gilstrap was also a promising talent on the court, known for his dedication and enthusiasm for the game. His father, Coach Jaimon Gilstrap, was praised for his leadership and mentorship in the local youth basketball scene. Coach Wayne Walls, too, was regarded as a pillar in the program—someone who had guided young athletes with patience and purpose.
The AAU program the victims were affiliated with had long served as a nurturing ground for talent and character-building in young athletes across Tulsa and beyond. News of the tragedy has sent shockwaves through the sports community, prompting an outpouring of grief, remembrance, and support.
As the Kansas Highway Patrol continues its investigation into the cause of the crash, families and friends of the victims are left grappling with an unimaginable loss.
Vigils and memorials are expected to be organized in the coming days in both Oklahoma and Kansas to honor the lives lost. Community leaders and school officials have also pledged mental health support for grieving students and teammates.
For now, the Oklahoma basketball community mourns not only the loss of talent but also the loss of mentors, fathers, sons, and friends — individuals who left a powerful legacy both on and off the court.
