Car crash kills Berkeley athlete

Moncks Corner -- For the second time in as many years, the Berkeley High School football team and town residents lost a young man to a car wreck.

On Friday night, the Stags celebrated a victory over Stratford. On Saturday afternoon, members of the team mourned the loss of teammate D.J. Weathers, who was killed in a one-car accident about 3 p.m.

Weathers was traveling west on Black Tom Road near Moncks Corner when the sedan he was driving left the roadway and hit a utility pole, said Bill Salisbury, chief deputy coroner for Berkeley County.

Weathers was pinned in the vehicle. He died at the scene from head and body trauma, Salisbury said. Weathers was not wearing a seat belt, he said.

The Berkeley County Coroner's Office and the Highway Patrol are investigating the accident.

Weathers, 16, scored a pair of touchdowns in the Stags' 40-14 victory over Stratford on Friday night.

"It's just such a reversal of feelings," Berkeley coach Jerry Brown said. "Less than 24 hours after winning a football game, we find out what's really important in life. Life is so fragile. He came up at the end of the game Friday night and hugged our videographer. He just wanted to thank him for taking videos of the game. That's a good way to remember D.J."

The tragedy marked the second time in two years that a Berkeley player was killed in an automobile accident during the season.

On Oct. 19, 2008, Darrell Estep was killed in a car crash the Sunday before the Summerville game. His funeral was held the day before the game and members of the Stags' football and wrestling teams served as pallbearers.

Late Saturday afternoon, members of the team met at St. James Church, which is located near Weathers' home and the scene of the accident.

"We just need to be together," Brown said. "We need to pray, to reflect. It's tough for young people to be this close to death. We need to cherish life. It's a gift from God. All the cares of the world are insignificant to our relationship with Jesus."

Prentiss Findlay contributed to this story. Reach Philip M. Bowman at 37-5592 or pbowman@postandcourier.com.