Booker T. Washington High School basketball player Donald “DJ” Laster died in a tragic car accident.
Donald “DJ” Laster was a promising freshman guard at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he played both point guard and shooting guard for the varsity basketball team.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 169 pounds, Laster wore jersey #12.
As a key contributor to a strong Hornets squad, he helped lead the team to an impressive 24-7 overall record, including a perfect 14-0 mark in district play, earning them the #4 state ranking.
Basketball Player Donald “DJ” Laster Passed Away At The Age of 14
Booker T. Washington High School basketball player Donald “DJ” Laster tragically lost his life due to a car accident on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 14.
According to the media reports, two vehicles collided head-on. They burst into flames on a two-lane highway in rural eastern Kansas, killing eight people, including a teacher-coach and a school employee from Oklahoma.
One person escaped from a wrecked vehicle and was hospitalized. Three of those killed were connected with Tulsa Public School.
Two cars, a GMC Yukon XL and a Subaru Legacy, were heading in opposite directions along U.S. Route 169. The driver of the GMC tried to pass a slower-moving vehicle when it crashed head-on into the Subaru.
The crash closed a section of the highway for four hours, and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jodi Clary said authorities were still working at the crash site Monday evening.
However, the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Booker T. Washington High School released a statement to announce the tragic news. They wrote,
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of a student from our Hornet family. Yesterday, Donald “DJ” Laster tragically passed away in a car accident. We have been in communication with DJ’s family and will share more information as it is available and appropriate. This accident also touched our community in a number of additional ways, as it claimed lives of others known to our students and team members from middle school, as basketball teammates, and as beloved members of our extended family across Tulsa. It is difficult for all of us to face the death of a child or trusted adult. Throughout the day today, a response team from the district’s Student and Family Support Services and partner agencies is present in our building to provide counseling and support to any student or staff member. Your child may be coming home with questions or worries about this loss. Please feel free to contact the school at (918) 925-1000 if you have any concerns you would like to discuss. Below, we have included a suggested resource that you may contact for immediate support. COPES, a community crisis response unit in Tulsa, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (918)-744-4800 should you or someone you know be in need of immediate support for a mental health crisis. The service is free and available to children and adults alike. For life threatening emergencies, please call 911. We know you join us in extending our heartfelt sympathy to all of those who have been impacted. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns or questions.
Booker T. Washington High School
Tulsa Public Schools coaches and Educators Kevin D. Williams Sr, Rickey Washington, and Eli Brown also released a statement:
We are heartbroken and stunned by the sudden loss of these beloved students, colleagues, and friends. They were our teammates and valued members of our community. We have been through the ups and downs of competitive sports together, and we saw them achieve great successes while also investing in others’ growth. Coach Wayne Walls inspired a generation of young people in Tulsa, using his leadership, teaching, and coaching talents to serve countless students and families. DJ Laster exhibited such bright potential, on and off the court, and had a vibrant presence in our buildings and schools. We miss them already, and mourn this tragic loss.
Tulsa Public School
MHS Basketball took to their official Facebook handle and prayed for Donald’s family. They wrote,
MHS Basketball Gives all the LOVE we can and all the PRAYERS we can to BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HORNET BASKETBALL and everyone who LOVES Donald “DJ” Laster!
MHS Basketball
Tulsa, Oklahoma, resident Elton Sykes also took to his Facebook handle and mourned the tragic loss of Donald. He wrote,
This is such a devastating tragedy! Wayne Walls was a teacher at Carver while I was the principal. He showed through his actions that he cared for his students inside and outside the classroom. Donald Laster was a good student at Carver; he always tried his best and wanted to improve. He was a student who had the potential to do whatever he wanted to do. Two good people are gone way too young! I pray for all the families involved in this terrible incident!
Elton Sykes
Donald’s uncle, Isaac Hudson, also took to his social media handle and shared a picture he clicked with Donald in Orlando. He wrote,
Nephew-I love you man. This hurts really bad. You nor your teammates deserved this tragedy. I’m truely at a lost of words. Just feeled with a lot of emotion. 14 years old Straight A student Allstar athlete Amazing personality. It’s hard to process the reality but it is real. This is one of the pictures we took in Orlando in january.
Isaac Hudson
Other close ones and relatives have also poured their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Donald’s family to stay strong in this heartbreaking moment.
He will always be remembered for his contributions as a Booker T. Washington High School basketball player. Rest in Heaven, Donald “DJ” Laster.
Donald “DJ” Laster Is Survived By His Parents And Sister, Leslie
Born in June 2010, Donald “DJ” Laster shared a close bond with his father, Donald Laster Sr., and his mother, whose identity has not been revealed.
According to Donald Laster Sr.’s Facebook handle, he is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended McLain High School.
In June 2024, Donald took his official Facebook handle to wish his son a happy 14th birthday. He wrote,
What is the purpose of my actions? 🎂🎂🎂Happy Cake day Son
Donald Laster Sr
Donald Sr. supported his son and helped him achieve his basketball dreams. He is currently mourning the death of his son, Donald “DJ” Laster.
In addition, Donald “DJ” Laster had one sister, Leslie Laster, 8, born on December 15, 2016. She is also mourning the tragic loss of her supportive brother, Donald “DJ” Laster.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Braden Walls survived the Kansas vehicle crash, suffered minor injuries, and was taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
- Victims in the Chevrolet Yukon that were killed in the crash were identified in the patrol’s report as 14-year-old Kyron Gilstrap of Tulsa, Donald Laster, 14, of Tulsa, and Wayne Walls, 41, of Talala, Oklahoma.
