'Friends and family meant everything' to Delmar High student mourned after fatal crash
The Delmar community is mourning the loss of a 16-year-old Delmar High School student killed in a car crash early Saturday morning in Salisbury, Maryland, that also left another student seriously injured.
The student killed was identified by his mother as Carter Figgs, a star football player and wrestler.
"No matter what he was doing, where he was going, he never left without a hug and (an I) love you," said his mother, Laurie Knapp. "My life will never be the same, but I am trying so hard to stay strong for my daughters because that's what he would want.
"Friends and family meant everything to him."
Another student involved in the crash is "still fighting for his life," according to Knapp.
The Salisbury Police Department released little information until Monday afternoon when they confirmed Figgs' death.
The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on South Salisbury Boulevard (Route 13), in the area of Lloyd Street, when a single car struck a telephone pole, the department said in a news release.
Police were able to speak with the driver and a passenger, both 17-year-old males, while two other passengers, Figgs and another 17-year-old male, were found outside the vehicle. The latter two were taken to a hospital, where Figgs was pronounced dead. The other injured passenger is in critical but stable condition, according to the release.
An investigation by both Salisbury and Maryland State Police found the driver was traveling south "at a speed exceeding the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour," the release said. The car crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a telephone pole, according to police.
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The driver was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide by vehicle, homicide by motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol and other offenses before being released to a guardian.
Delmar School District Superintendent Andrew O'Neal released the following statement on Facebook on Saturday evening."On behalf of the entire Delmar School District community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family of one of our dear students and to all those who are suffering due to his heartbreaking loss. We join the community in sharing our thoughts and prayers as we all endure the shock of this unspeakable tragedy. The entirety of our community is reeling, in pain, and in deep sorrow. We are grateful to our neighbors, as Wicomico County Public Schools and our nearby Delaware school districts offered additional counselors to be on hand to support our students and staff in supplement to the assistance we will be providing in the coming days. We are sure that further private and public efforts will be underway in short order to express the community’s outpouring of support for the family at this most difficult of times."
Athletic events were canceled in the Delmar School District on Monday, and counseling was available for students and staff, another Facebook post said.
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Hundreds of students and community members gathered at a candlelight vigil and bonfire for Figgs on Sunday night on Old Stage Road in Delmar.
"Delmar experienced a horrible tragedy Friday night that will forever change a lot of lives," organizer Doug Marshall said in a Facebook post.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 16-year-old Carter Figgs identified as Delmar student killed in crash
