By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A candlelight vigil planned at Salisbury Academy Monday night for the Rowan County family of four killed Thursday in a West Virginia highway accident will be a private affair for students, parents and staff.

The Gilley family — father David, mother Christine and children Grace and Jack — died in the 5:30 p.m. accident Thursday on Interstate 77 in Mercer County, W.Va. A tractor-trailer heading southbound crossed the interstate median and struck the northbound SUV of the Gilley family.

The Gilleys reportedly were headed to Ohio over spring break to visit family.

Grace Gilley was a seventh-grader at Salisbury Academy. Jack Gilley was in the fourth grade at Bostian Elementary School.

Lizzy Roy, director of marketing and communications for Salisbury Academy, released the following statement from the school Saturday morning about the tragedy:

“It is with deep sorrow that Salisbury Academy mourns the loss of the Gilley Family – Dave, Christine, Jack and Grace.

“Grace, a seventh-grader at Salisbury Academy, was a light-filled spirit and epitomized every aspect of true grace. She was a friend to all of her classmates, beloved by faculty, and had a tremendous heart. She was beautiful inside and out.

“Words are not adequate to express the loss of Grace and her family. Our prayers of sympathy, love and support go out to all who knew and loved them.”

Roy asked that media not attend the 6:30 p.m. vigil planned for Monday, “as this is too much for our students, parents and staff to take in as we grieve.”