LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Students at one Lake County charter school are planning a memorial for their classmate who was tragically killed in a crash this week. That crash killed two teenage boys.
News 6 has learned one of those teens attended Alee Academy in Lake County where we saw flags at half-staff Tuesday as students and staff tried to cope with tragedy.
The crash happened just before 8 p.m. Monday on Goose Prairie Road near Felkins Road northeast of Leesburg.
“Shocked, stunned and they’re grieving,” said Alee Academy Principal Cindy Emerick. “Just a very nice well-rounded young man and we all loved him.”
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Emerick said the entire school is grieving.
“Just a nice kid. What 16-year-old deserves that? And his family, his family is a part of our family,” said Emerick.
She said the school is not releasing the 16-year-old boy’s name out of respect for his family. But they confirmed he was the passenger in the vehicle when the Florida Highway Patrol says the 17-year-old driver lost control of his Jeep Wrangler while passing a vehicle in a no-pass zone. The 17-year-old was also killed.
“It appears there wasn’t enough room to pass, there was another oncoming vehicle so they switched back into their lane and they struck the vehicle they were passing,” said Lt. Channing Taylor with FHP. “At no time are you authorized to exceed the speed limit just to pass someone.”
Troopers say the driver of the other vehicle was not hurt and stayed at the scene.
Neighbors saw the aftermath.
“All I saw was the wheels up in the air. It was upside down, whatever happened the vehicle flipped over,” one neighbor said.
Back at Alee Academy, the 16-year-old’s teachers, friends and the staff are focused on the well-loved student that he was.
“He was funny, always had a smile on his face,” said Emerick. “Just sad that he won’t see his future because we all know that he has a bright one.”
We’re still working to find out more about the 17-year-old boy who also died.
At this time, no charges have been filed.
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