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Tributes to high school sweethearts killed in horror crash

A South Australian community has been rocked by the tragic deaths of high school sweethearts in a horror head-on crash.

Hayden Perkins, 17, and his 18-year-old girlfriend Mikayla Eastwood were driving on Long Valley Road in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Gemmells on Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck.

In a shocking twist, the driver of the oncoming car was a teacher at their Strathalbyn school.

She suffered minor injuries, but the young lovers were killed.

Police investigations into the crash are ongoing.

The pair had just finished Year 12 when they were involved in a fatal crash on Tuesday. Source: 7News
The pair had just finished Year 12 when they were involved in a fatal crash on Tuesday. Source: 7News

On Wednesday a shocked community left floral tributes at the crash scene.

“They’re just too young,” one mourner said.

Hayden’s family has described him as a gentle soul and avid basketballer.

Mikayla’s mother told her family and friends to “please remember her for the fun-loving girl that she was”.

The driver of the car the pair collided with was a teacher at their school. Source: 7News
The driver of the car the pair collided with was a teacher at their school. Source: 7News
The pair were both avid sports enthusiasts. Source: 7News
The pair were both avid sports enthusiasts. Source: 7News

“Soccer was her passion and she achieved so much in her short 18 years.”

Mikayla played for local team Strathalbyn Strikers and had just begun coaching the under-13 girls.

“That’s what they liked about her is that it was a girl coaching girls then she had the ability so anything she asked of them they knew she could do herself,” Strikers president Nick Brooks said.

The school is providing counselling to students and staff after the tragedy, and has committed to supporting the teacher involved during her recovery.

“Over the weeks and months there’s going to be a time when the community are going to have to lean on each other to support and provide support for those affected,” the Education Department’s Anne Prime said.