The same torrential rains that delayed commencement ceremonies at DeKalb High School Friday evening are being blamed for a West Broad Street crash which left several people, including students, injured.

The 17-year-old female driver who triggered the wreck told police she never saw the other vehicle coming when she pulled her 2005 Chevy Cavalier from Anthony Avenue, onto West Broad. Her name and the names of the three other teens involved in the crash have not been released by police because they are juveniles. The teen driver noted that the heavy rain contributed to her not being able to see oncoming traffic as she pulled onto the main rain. Meanwhile, just up the highway, graduation ceremonies had been placed in a holding pattern as a severe thunderstorm hit the campus, dumping rain and hail onto the stadium where commencement was to be held.

According to the accident report released by the Smithville Police Department, the wreck happened when the Chevy Cavalier entered the path of an oncoming eastbound 2001 Ford F-150 driven by Ricky Dowell, 59, of Alexandria. Dowell said he swerved trying to avoid impact by still hit the Cavalier and then struck a westbound Ford FX4 driven by a 17-year-old male.

Both Dowell and his wife, Shelia Dowell were taken to the St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital as was the teen driver of the Cavalier and her 17-year-old passenger. The two teens in the FX4 that was collected during the chain reaction crash escaped serious injury.