DALLAS - A field trip turned deadly for a Dallas Independent School District student.

Only a block away from his hotel, a 17-year-old senior was killed in a hit-and-run accident while on a trip to Austin to perform with his school's African Dance Ensemble.

"He always brought liveliness to the team," said Jonathan Culton, a fellow student. "We had so much fun. He brought so much joy to everyone, so it was really hard when we heard it this morning."

The boy's body was spotted by a driver around 2 a.m. Friday on Interstate 35 South on the lower deck in Austin.

The trip was for a group of 24 students with the Visual and Performing Arts School at Booker T. Washington.

Now, parents are expressing concern over how exactly the incident occurred.

"I have a lot of questions, as I'm sure most parents do," said parent Sabrina McCoullouh. "How could this have happened?"

John Dahlander, with DISD, said enough parents and supervisors were staffed for the trip.

"Obviously, something happened along the way," he said.

Four parents and two teachers were on the trip with the students. The chaperones said they made checks on the students the night before for the accident. Meanwhile, authorities are still investigating the incident.

Culton had received a four-year scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music.