They used my nickname in a newspaper article, I think that's funny.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

I don't like the picture. It makes me light headed and nauseated.
I miss my dad and my best friend.
-Madeline Barham

I didn't know Alyssa but when I saw her picture I also felt the pain of losing such a beautiful young person!

That pic looks so terrible..it's hard to even look at. :(

Maddie came to school on the last day and we were excited to see her, we welcomed her back and signed posters for her.
My prayers are with Alyssa & Maddie's family.
HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER MADDIE. WE LOVE YOU.

Alyssa was my role model.
i looked up to her alot. we were good friends and she was there when i needed to talk to her.She was so excited to be going to Stroman...she had plans to become someone very important and probably even famous. Almost everyday i would tell her while walking down the hallway to 3rd period i would tell her "Burleigh! i like your shoes!" she would just turn and look at me with that wonderful smile of hers and say "thank you."
she always had a huge smile as bright as the sun, she had no enemies,was beautiful,fun to be around,very photogenic,and was just a wonderful person... i miss her soooo mmuuuccchhh..
but i know that she's in a better place now and soon we will see each other again and dance with our father in heaven together.
she's watching down on us now smiling as always telling us to not worry about her and enjoy life and live it to the fullest, and to forgive our enemies and make the world a much better place.
she has taught everyone that knew her a very valuable life lesson. Im so glad that i knew her cause she taught me alot. God had a reason for her to be on this world for the time she was...it was for us..to help us learn from her and to somewhat follow her ways of life. She is now our beautiful angel up in heaven. She will NEVER be forgotten..we keep all of our memories of her alive.
(Can't wait to see you again in heaven and give you a huge hug)
I LOVE YOU & MISS YOU -BRI- "YOU'RE THE BEST"

What a horrifc tragedy! I attended high school with both Doug and Maritia Barham in Tahoka. This couple had an incredible love affair and I am saddened to see it come to a tragic end. We will be prayerful for healing for all the families involved.
Blessings,
Amanda (Amy) Porterfield White

I went to school with and knew Doug a few years ago in Tahoka. My prayers are with them. Robbie Tyson

I attended high school with Doug and Maritia. Such a tragedy for their family and Alyssa's. Pray that God's grace and tender mercies will sustain them through this dark time.

Danette Phillips Baker

What a terrible burden for Garret Barham to carry! Whether Garrett did something wrong as a driver or not, guilt will follow him the rest of his life and could destroy him. He truely needs everyone's prayers to see him through.

Alyssa was 1 of the most amazing people i had ever met.She will be missed greatly and i will always have her in my thoughts.
R.I.P. Alyssa.
And i pray that Maddie gets well soon 2.
My heart goes out 2 the Barham and the Burleigh families.

Alyssa. I never realized how much i loved her till she were gone. We werent best friends but close. I just wish i could give her one last hug. I know she is in heaven and that we will see her again one day but that seems so far from now. I remember on Friday we had laughed our buts off about some silly stuff. Its weird how one day she was here smiling the next,gone. Ill see you in heaven alyssa! I love you and you will forever hold a spot in my heart.

Alyssa, i know i didn't excactly know you very well, i haven't spoke to you, but a couple of words... i'v been meening to get to know you because of how nice and thoughtful people say you are:/ but everytime i saw you, you always seemed to have this BIG white smile on your face :) its too bad i didn't get know you, or even start just the slitest conversation with you. i don't get why you of all people had to go, you were beautiful, athletic, and LOVED by everyone! R.I.P alyssa burleigh. i will miss you lots :(
and maybe we can chat sometime when i get to heaven :)

-Danielle Chavez :)

Alyssa was the most amazing person you could ever meet. Why did SHE of all people have to go?
Why do the good die young, i thought they saved the best for last!
You will never be forgotten.
RIP-Alyssa Paige Burleigh (9-2-94 to 5-24-09)

Telk,
When Mr. Burham got to thursday's game...that is all he could talk about, how proud he was of Maddie. He was grinning ear to ear. Even though we lost that game, you couldn't tell with Doug, he was too happy about his daughter to let our loss bother him.

Kingrob, years ago I had a Suburban and it was classed as a "9 passenger". This means it could carry 9 people legally with seatbelts for all. Whether or not people wore them is a different story.
Although most Suburbans come with two bucket seats in the front mine had a front bench seat along with the middle and rear bench seats therefore seating 9. (three in each seat) Even with the bucketseats there is legal room for 8.

It has been very tearful in our home since the news yesterday morning. We have known Alyssa and Maddie for the past three years. Alyssa was such a wonderful young lady. My daughter had a locker next to her in athletics. She told me yesterday that if she was a mom and wanted a model child, Alyssa would be the daughter she would have chosen. She was in the top 5 of her class, beautiful, and athletic. I never saw that girl without a smile. Our family is praying for hers as well as for Maddie's family. Mr. Burham was also a very kind man. He too always had a smile. Maddie won an award for band on Thursday night and you could hear her daddy whopping and hollering for her over the crowd. You both will be deeply missed. I pray for supernatural healing and peace for both families.

My condolences to the family and friends, this is a tragedy. As for the comments regarding the photo to the Victoria Advocate I see no problem with it, photos of these kind of accidents are always seen in other newspapers.

It's always a trajedy when you hear about accidents where deaths are involved but even more so a trajedy when you know the family. Coach Doug will be greatly missed! It's going to be very hard to attend my sons last 2 games knowing Coach Doug will not be there cheering on the team, giving advice on how to swing the bat or where to stand out in the field, to get baseball ready. I'm so very glad that my son had the honor to have been taught about baseball by Coach for the last 2 years. It just won't be the same without Mr. Barham! May he rest in peace.

My prayers are with the Barham family as well with the Burleigh's. I pray for peace that passes all understanding.

Stephanie Means

What a horrible tragedy. I don't know much about suburban's, but can you fit 7 people in a suburban? I would think 2 people in the front, 3 in the middle, then 2 in the back?

I don't see anything wrong with posting the photo. The Advocate (and many other papers) show pics of car accidents all the time. I think the picture gives you a better idea of what happened. I for one, will be thinking safety even more while driving over this overpass.

Condolences to the families and friends.

Yea, icky. It looks like a person in the grass. This picture really doesn't need to be shown. ewwy.

that photo really doesn't need part of this article

Out of respect to the families involved as well as to the community as a whole, remove the photo. It serves no purpose. You are further traumatizing the friends and failies of the victims with this exploitive picture. Shame on you Victoria Advocate. My deepest sympathies and condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.

Allen & I both went to school with Doug and Maritia. We are saddened by your loss! We just can't believe it! We are praying for all of you during this difficult time and pray for a speedy recovery for all of you. We miss you!
Allen & Pam Elrod
Tahoka

I feel so bad for both families. I grew up with Doug and Maritia in Tahoka. Doug farmed only a couple of miles from my family. I will always remember the fun times we had. He was a very giving person and a friend to everyone. Maritia and the family will have a difficult time trying to deal with this. It's going to be hard, but they have many friends and family that will help them through. Maritia, I hope you all recover quickly and you and the kids will be in my prayers.

Toi Bragg Forswall

I am so sorry for the loss of both families. I have known Alyssa for about 2 years when I started working for her parents around early 2008. When she would come in the shop she would just brighten up the place with her cute little smile! She was so polite and kind to everyone. She was such a sweetheart. I am praying for the Burleigh's and for the Barham's at this very moment.

My sincerest condolences,

Josh.

I can't believe Alyssa is dead, I knew her when we were in each other's class in third grade and we were friends then. I just keep expecting her to be in the hallways or to see her after school with Maddie. I also hope that Maddie and her family get well soon and feel horrible for their loss. I'm not close with either of them but they were always so nice. I just can't believe this happened. I feel bad for the Burliegh's aswell. I can't seen to word this right either.
Love,
Molly Duke

...I'm going to miss Alyssa, she was an awesome person
i wish the best of luck to Alyssa and Maddies family's

-Chris Valles

what a horrible tragedy.

R I P

What happened to Maddie, Alyssa and the Barham's is so unbelievably tragic. I am also friends with both Maddie and Alyssa, and it is so hard to wrap my head around the fact that Alyssa and Mr. Barham are gone. I am also praying that the others will get through this. I'll miss you Alyssa and Mr. Barham!
Love,
Katie Gray

I cant believe either! It wont be the same without Alyssa at school and I hope Maddie and her family are okay!
~ taylor mccrary

A horrible accident. I went to high school with both Doug and Maritia. Please pray for healing and peace for these families.

Sheri Tomlinson Pugh

i know alyssa has been there for me and the other way around i will miss her so much but i know that she is in a better place now and im prayin for her mom and ken the father and i know they will get through this but it takes time and i love them and her so much love anissa mendoza we all love u alyssa

I cant believe this has happened i travis johnston am very good friends with maddie and alyssa and i cant imagine either of them in the hospital and much less dead! well all we can do is pray for the barham's and burleigh's and hope everything comes out alright! we will all miss you alyssa burleigh and doug barham!
love, travis johnston!