Shock, sadness and fear that has gripped the Franklin community has also been met with hope, prayer and togetherness in the wake of a horrible accident involving several young people.

An accident in Gold City that injured Mason Davis, Da’mont Leggs, both of whom were still in critical condition as of Thursday in a Nashville hospital, and three others led to a community prayer in Franklin on Thursday. Franklin-Simpson students were among the crowd in support of their classmates.

The accident has the attention of Warren Countians as well. Along with Franklin-Simpson High School, Warren County Public Schools and Bowling Green Independent Schools encouraged their students to wear blue on Thursday. Franklin-Simpson’s colors are blue and white.

It’s heartwarming to see such support, both in Franklin through the prayers and tears shed there and the attention the tragic crash has garnered in Warren County.

“I’ve never seen anything to this magnitude of seeing all these schools just come together and support one another,” Franklin-Simpson senior Emmalee Knight said. She is president of the Student Council. “You can leave the competitive side of high school sports, all of that stuff at the door and you can see what really matters.”

Davis is the son of Bowling Green Police Officer Matt Davis, who was injured in a shooting last year in Bowling Green.

Matt Davis spoke with those at Thursday’s prayer meeting via FaceTime. Franklin First United Methodist Church youth pastor Tyler Harting relayed Officer Davis’ message to those in attendance.

“He lives in Bowling Green so doesn’t know a lot of you,” Harting stated. “He says even not knowing you he loves you, and he can’t even express how thankful he is that you all would show up.”

Southcentral Kentucky comes together during such difficult times.

“Father, we are standing here right now … believing that the same God that was healing over 3,000 years ago is the same God that heals today,” said Franklin Community Church Pastor Eric Walker during a prayer at Thursday’s meeting. “Tonight we’re walking by faith. We’re not walking by sight.”

We are prayerful too for these young men, their families and the community of Franklin.