Teammates and friends remember crash victim

CLEARCREEK TWP., Ohio (WDTN) - The Springboro community is mourning the loss of a high school student and football standout.

Shaun Frechette, 17, was killed early Thursday morning when he somehow lost control of his car and hit a utility pole in the 4700 block of State Route 741 in Clearcreek Township. Investigators say the teen was on his way to school at the time.

Shaun's football coach and teammates are shocked.

"It hit everybody like a ton of bricks. We are all really sad," said Sean Welsh, Team captain. "He was always smiling. He was always laughing. He always lightened the atmosphere when you were around him, so he will definitely be missed."

"I was trying to think of the right things to say and pretty soon it came clear it wasn't what I said to them but the fact that we were all together," said Head Coach Ryan Wilhite. "When you put together a program you need guys like Shaun Frechette. They don't always get the headlines, they aren't always the stars of the game, but they are the core of who you are and Shaun was a big piece of that."

His classmates erected a makeshift memorial to their friend. Many just celebrated Halloween with Shaun.

"We went trick or treating, me and a couple of friends. I met Shaun over there with them and it's just crazy seeing him that night and he gave me a ride up to my truck in his car," said John Branhart, friend.

"I'm just so sad. I'm going to miss him a lot. I can't believe it happened to Shaun. He was such a safe driver," said Mariah Yeary, friend.

According to the CDC, seven teenagers died every day in 2010 after being involved in an auto accident.

Per mile driven, teens ages 16 to 19 are are three times as likely to be in a fatal crash than those over the age of 20.

The governor's Safety Highway Association reports that deaths among drivers ages 16 and 17 jumped in 2011 for the first time in eight years.