Three college marching band members are killed in Louisiana crash

Three Southern University marching band members were killed while fixing a flat tire on the side of the road when a semi-truck plowed into them.

Tyran Williams and Broderick Moore, both 19, and Dylan Young, 21, were driving home to Texas for Christmas on Tuesday night when they pulled over on the I-49 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. 

As the three friends worked together on the interstate's shoulder, semi-truck driver Clyde Gay, 62, drifted into the lane and struck the students and their 1999 Jeep Laredo. 

The students, who were a part of the Human Jukebox Marching Band at Southern University, were pronounced dead at the scene. Gay was arrested and his toxicology results are pending. 

Dylan Young, 21, was from Dallas. He was a freshman at the college and majored in mechanical engineering before he was hit by the semi-truck and died

Broderick Moore, 19, was from Texas. He was a freshman music major and was also returning home for the Christmas break when the fatal collision occurred

Tyran Williams, 19, was from Dallas, Texas. He was a freshman at the college majoring in music 

The three friends were traveling from the Baton Rough school to Texas together when the fatal incident occurred. Williams and Young were both from Dallas and Moore was from Cedar Hill.

Young was a mechanical engineering major and the other two were music majors. 

One source told WBRZ that the students were on a call when they were hit. The person on the students were talking to had called the police. 

'For reasons still under investigation, a northbound 1997 Freightliner... drifted onto the northbound shoulder, struck the left side of the Jeep and impacted all three pedestrians,' police said.

The students were about 250 miles away from Dallas.  

Kedric Taylor, band director of the marching band, described the students as 'promising, humble and talented' in a heartbreaking tribute post. 

The three were heading home to Texas for their Christmas break when the crash occurred. They were about 250 miles away from their destination 

'I am at a loss for words and utterly devastated to hear the news that three of my band members lost their lives in a vehicle collision Tuesday night,' Taylor wrote.

'Tyran Williams, Dylan Young, and Broderick Moore were some of the most promising, humble and talented student musicians I've had the pleasure of instructing. 

'The dedication and work ethic they displayed to the Human Jukebox was inspiring.' 

Young and Moore were tuba players and Williams was a percussionist.

Heartbroken Taylor said the Human Jukebox Marching Band were working on how to celebrate and memorialize the student's life. 

Dennis Shields, the Southern University president, shared the deaths in a statement sent out to the student body.

Shield advised students should use the school's counseling services to cope with the tragic losses.

'I know that the sudden loss of a classmate or friend can be devastating,' Shield wrote. 'I encourage you to reach out to someone you trust to talk about your feelings.'  

The three friends had pulled over on the side of the road to fix a flat tire on the I-49 in Natchitoches, Louisiana when they were hit. Pictured: Moore (left) and Young (right)

The students were remembered as promising and talented. Pictured: Williams

Their school's marching band posted a heartfelt tribute to their lost members 

Tributes for the three beloved students poured out on social media.

Kenneth Sanders referred to Moore as being a son he never had. 

'When I found out he was going to my alma mater Southern University I felt compelled to spend some time with him this past summer,' Sanders wrote on Facebook.

'I told him countless stories about my time at Southern. I help him get a lot things he needed and wanted for his freshman year. I was looking forward to him coming home for Christmas break to hear how his first semester was.' 

Shane Stover, Moore's former economic teachers, also mourned his loss. 

'Broderick was a student of mine in my government/economics class last year. I really enjoyed having him and I looked forward to all his accomplishments in life. 

'His life was cut short, and my heart goes out to the family. He was a great young man and loved his music. I am truly sorry for your loss. I will miss his contagious smile and laughter.'  

One woman wrote that Williams was her son's best friend. 

'Tryan is one of my son's best friends.. my son is so hurt,' April Turner wrote.

The accident occurred on the I-49 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The three were on the shoulder of the interstate 

Clyde Gay, 62, was driving a semi-truck (stock image) when he drifted into the lane and struck the students and their 1999 Jeep Laredo