A South Carolina High School is mourning the loss of one of its beloved students. One of their football stars was killed on Saturday (September 19) in a tragic vehicular accident.
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Football Star Dead After Tragic Rollover Accident
16-year-old Cruz Evatt Ellenburg, a second-year wide receiver and reserve quarterback for Pickens High School, died. After his utility terrain vehicle (UTV) was involved in a rollover crash, according to a Thursday (September 24) report from the Daily Mail.
According to the outlet, the star wide receiver's UTV is alleged to have gone off road and onto private property. He was "unrestrained," per a press release from the Pickens County Coroner's Office.
Following the football star's death, an outpouring of sorrowful tributes poured in. One student, who appeared to be present at the scene of the crash, described the situation as "unfair" in a heartfelt social media post.
"This is so hard for me to speak about. Because I believe [it's] so unfair that only one of us gets to walk away from the accident. I'm not gonna say a lot because I'd rather say it to your face. You had one of the best personalities out there, and I see why God chose you," the Instagram post reads.
"From 6th grade all the way to your final moments, I'm glad I was here for it all. I'm grateful I got to call you my best friend. We were at our closest, and it felt like we were just getting started, which makes saying goodbye that much harder."
Pickens County School District also mourned the loss of Ellenburg in a heartfelt statement.
"Our hearts are with Cruz's family, friends, classmates, and the entire Pickens High School community during this very difficult time," the
statement reads.Pickens County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into the incident. An autopsy will also be performed at a later date.
