JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 15-year-old teenager who died in a crash involving several teens Thursday night in Lake City has been identified by friends as Nevaeh Highsmith.
According to the crash report from Florida Highway Patrol, another 15-year-old was behind the wheel driving South on SW Tustenuggee Avenue near the intersection of SW Minnie Glen around 10:40 p.m. The report said he drove off the road, hit a tree and the car flipped several times.
"The last thing I remember was when we swerved and started flipping and I just closed my eyes," 17-year-old Tomorion Freeman, the passenger in the front seat, said.
Freeman returned to the scene Friday looking for some of his belongings he said he thinks flew out of the car during the crash.
“It was a dark road and a deer … the driver said a deer came out and then he swerved really hard, then boom. The car started flipping. It happened so fast," Freeman said.
According to the report, Highsmith was ejected from the car and died at the scene.
“We were getting out of the car and I see two of my friends on the floor," Freeman said. "That's a night I don't want to remember, but I know is going to keep repeating," he said.
Freeman said he and the other four teens in the car go to Columbia High School. Highsmith was just a sophomore, he said, and wanted to play basketball in college.
"He was a good person, funny, silly. He loved playing sports and joking around," Freeman said. "He was an outstanding person. He was really good to hang out around … fun and a great personality," Freeman said.
According to the high school, there will be grief counselors at the school for students and staff.
A tow-truck towed away the remaining pieces of the car Friday afternoon, including the bumper and muffler.
According to the report, the driver, 15 years old, has minor injuries. Two of the 17-year-old passengers, including Freeman, have minor injuries, and another 15-year-old passenger has serious injuries. Freeman said that the passenger with serious injuries is recovering.
The driver, we're told, didn't have his license or learner's license. First Coast News asked FHP if there will be any charges and we're waiting to hear back. The crash is still under investigation.
