A local 14-year-old boy tragically lost his life after he and his 14-year-old friend took a family member’s SUV and crashed it into a heavy-duty address sign/mailbox, a tree and a house on Stanton Hill Road in Cameron, according to officials. The other teen, who was the passenger, suffered burns and was sent to the hospital. The incident occurred at approximately 3:20 a.m. on Thursday.
A first responder on the scene explained the tire tracks across the wheat field to Sandhills Sentinel. The SUV struck a neighboring property’s heavy address sign made of large flywheels, then traveled 60 feet through a field before striking a tree and the home. The impact with the sign split the SUV’s fuel tank, igniting the car.
The SUV’s tire tracks led across the field to the far left of the brick house. The home that caught fire in the 2500 block of Stanton Hill Road was unoccupied at the time.Â
The teenage driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the accident report.
Union Pines High School made a social media announcement about the student losing his life.Â
“It is with deep sadness that I must inform you of the death of one of our students who was involved in a car accident early this morning,” said Union Pines High School Principal Andy McCormick. “We are all heartbroken by this news, and our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We understand that this news will be upsetting for our entire school community.
“To support our students, we are working closely with our school counselors and MCS Student Support Services team to provide additional support as needed throughout the remainder of the week. Counselors will be available to speak with students individually or in small groups. We encourage you to talk with your child about their feelings and to reach out to the school if you believe your child needs additional support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.”
Feature photo: A home in Cameron sustains damage after a fiery car crash that left a 14-year-old deceased on May 15. Photo by Stephanie M. Sellers/Sandhills Sentinel.Â
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers. Stephanie is also an English instructor at Central Carolina Community College. She is the author of When the Yellow Slugs Sing, Sky’s River Stone, GUTTERSNIPE: Shakespearean English Stage Play with Translation, Amagi, Amagi Study Guide, and EZ Essay Study Guide for Holocaust: A History.
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