Walbrook seeks to keep routine after player's death in car wreck

The Walbrook High School community, saddened by the sudden death of basketball player Rodney Beasley in a weekend automobile accident, does not plan to postpone any athletic events.

"We want to keep from disrupting the routine as much as possible," said Walbrook principal Samuel Billups.

A city public school crisis team spent yesterday at Walbrook, helping students cope with the shock.

Walbrook was scheduled to visit Lake Clifton today for a lacrosse game and Carver tomorrow for a baseball game.

Beasley played in the East-West All-Star underclass basketball game last Saturday at Morgan State University. Later that night, Beasley was riding in a car driven by Kristal Preston, sister of Dunbar guard Michael Lloyd. Lloyd and Walbrook players Carl Williams and Joe Wilson also were passengers in the car headed south on Aisquith street. According to police reports, when Preston attempted to stop for a traffic signal, the car skidded into a pole supporting the traffic light.

Beasley, 17, was pronounced dead at 12:20 a.m. Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Preston was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center with broken legs. She is listed in fair, but stable condition.

Lloyd, Williams and Wilson were treated at Mercy Medical Center and released. Lloyd has a broken ankle, Williams a broken arm and Wilson suffered a concussion.

A viewing for Beasley will be held tomorrow after 2 p.m. at March Funeral Home, 1101 E. North Ave. A funeral service has been set for Thursday at 8 p.m.