Palmer Ridge High School began the day Tuesday with a moment of silence in honor of two students who were killed in a Monday morning car crash, and a wooden cross erected at the crash site near Black Forest quickly was signed with messages from mourners.

“Forever,” “miss you,” “love” and “angels” appeared in various messages scrawled with black Sharpie on the cross and on baseballs wedged underneath a growing pile of colorful bouquets.

A set of wrestling ear guards sat nearby, along with an empty Black Eyed Peas CD case for an album titled “The E.N.D.,” an acronym for “Energy Never Dies.” Beau Begier, a talented wrestler, and Ryan Pappas, a second baseman with the Palmer Ridge Bears, had brought an energy to the halls, classrooms and athletic fields of Palmer Ridge that was missed Tuesday. Both were seniors.

“This was a very sad and difficult day for our young high school,” said Palmer Ridge Principal Gary Gabel, who noted the school has not seen the likes of such tragedy in its seven-year history.

Counselors were on hand throughout the day to talk with grieving students, he said.

“Some (students) are upset. Some are quiet. Some are angry,” Gabel said. “There are some who are asking, ‘why?’ ”

State troopers said speed and alcohol were factors in the deadly single-vehicle crash, which also seriously injured classmate Jack Mitchell Clark, 17. He remained hospitalized Tuesday but was improving, Gabel said.

The driver, a 17-year-old from Parker who had recently transferred from Palmer Ridge High School, crashed the Mini Cooper the teens were in after allegedly running a stop sign at Roller Coaster and Baptist Assembly roads.

Troopers said the car went airborne through the intersection before going out of control and slamming into a grove of trees.

The unidentified driver, who appeared at the El Paso County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, was being held at a juvenile detention center without bond. He was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, according to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The driver is scheduled to appear in court Friday, when a judge will decide whether he’ll be charged as an adult or a juvenile.

While District 38 is allowing students to mourn before implementing any drunken driving awareness program, the tragedy struck a chord with local districts that hope to turn students’ attention to responsible driving practices through awareness programs.

“Our hearts go out to the families involved, and we share the sadness that the students and our colleagues feel in this terrible loss,” Falcon School District 49 spokesman Matt Meister said.

Vista Ridge and Sand Creek high schools, both in District 49, actively collaborate with DRIVE SMART Colorado in partnership with Colorado Springs police and are planning to stress the message against teen drinking and driving through homecoming week.

Colorado Springs School District 11 officials have arranged for a guest speaker to address underage drinking and driving dangers and risks with juniors and seniors at Mitchell High School, District 11 
spokeswoman Mary Crimmins said.

Beau Begier’s family hopes the 17-year-old’s death is a warning to other teens of the dangers of drinking and 
driving.

“Hopefully other people will learn from this,” said Kendall Begier, 19, his sister.

The Begier family also released a statement to The Gazette on Tuesday:

“The community support has been tremendous and that has helped us immensely. The outpouring of love has been overwhelming. We were touched by the star that was lit above Palmer Lake in Beau and Ryan’s memory. We feel it’s a time to celebrate Ryan and Beau’s life and to continue to pray for Jack’s recovery. Our Beau was dearly loved, had a huge heart and deeply cared for others.”

An online fund set up for the Begier family had raised more than $8,500 by 9 p.m. Tuesday, exceeding its goal by about $3,000.

A service for Begier is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at New Life Church.

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Contact Andrea Sinclair: 636-0235

Twitter @GazetteAndrea

Beau Begier. Photo courtesy of Facebook

Ryan Pappas. Photo courtesy of Facebook

A wooden cross and a large pot of flowers is at the center of a makeshift memorial for the two Palmer Ridge students who died on as the result of a car crash neat the intersection of Baptist Rd. and Roller Coaster Rd. early Monday morning. Ryan Pappas and Beau Bigier were seniors at Palmer Ridge High School. Another student, Mitchell Clark, was critically injured in the accident. Fellow Palmer Ridge seniors, Nick Haller, Logan Malone, and Ryan Best (right to left) spent time grieving at the site on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. All three teens played on sports teams with the two who were killed. A family friend of both boys, Jennifer Knisley brought her son, Jake Knisley (left), to mourn the two boys who had spent time with him like big brothers. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Sentiments at a makeshift memorial where two teens were killed in an auto crash early Monday morning. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Sentiments at a makeshift memorial where two teens were killed in an auto crash early Monday morning. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Todd Knisley coached Beau Begier in wrestling and has been friends with his family for years. He paid his respects at a makeshift memorial at the accident site. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Palmer Ridge students visit the scene where two of their classmates, Ryan Pappas and Beau Begier, were killed early Monday morning in a deadly car crash. Jenny Slaughter, Cory Spinosa, Josie Lopez, and Hunter Williamson, comfort each other near the intersection of Baptist Rd. and Roller Coaster Rd. A large cross was erected by friends of the students on Monday night. The students were visiting the makeshift memorial on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)

Lauren Medina and Maddy Trujillo, students at Lewis-Palmer High School, bought shirts to honor their friend, Ryan Pappas. They visit the site where Pappas and Beau Begier were killed in an auto crash early Monday morning on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)