ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County community is mourning the loss of its star high school quarterback, who was killed overnight while helping a friend in Wedgefield.
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A memorial has been set up for Nick Miner behind some of the pieces of his Ford F-150 truck that shattered when a Honda sedan plowed into it early Sunday morning.
Neighbors said that they had asked the government to reconfigure this road to get drivers to slow down, but nothing has been done.
Read: Orange County high school student killed in crash
A crowd of young people hammered a cross into the ground to honor a friend gone too soon.
Miner was 18 years old and a three-year starting quarterback for East River High School.
We will have grief counselors available on campus first thing in the morning for any student or staff member who needs to speak with someone about this loss.
— East River HS (@EastRiverHS) October 23, 2022
Please keep our students and staff in your thoughts at this very difficult time. Thank you for your support. pic.twitter.com/tHXI1O3YT9
Witnesses said Miner was helping to tow a friend out of the roadside ditch with his F-150 when a woman driving a Honda sedan crashed into him.
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The truck partially shattered, rolled over, and pinned Miner underneath it.
Troopers have not yet said what caused the crash or what they plan to charge the other driver with.
All afternoon Sunday, friends and family members comforted one another on-site in front of the crosses and his football helmet and then at a private memorial on the field.
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But amid the grief, they said there was a need for change.
Dallas Boulevard is a place where cars frequently drive well above the speed limit, even with a crowd of mourners on the side of the road.
Community members said they had asked the government to do something to the road for years so that people slow down, such as adding lights near intersections at night.
But so far, nothing has been done.
It is unclear what factors were involved in this crash.
East River High School posted a statement that said they would cancel all after-school activities on Monday during this difficult time.
🚨 ALL after school activities are canceled for tomorrow (Monday 10/24).
— East River HS (@EastRiverHS) October 24, 2022
More updates will come tomorrow about the rest of the week.
Thank you for your continued grace and patience as we navigate this difficult time. https://t.co/T6QZMV3A9E
The family has posted a GoFundMe page in honor of Miner, which can be found here.
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