A 22-year-old recent graduate of Quincy University in Indiana planned to participate in commencement exercises this month after completing his studies last December. Instead, he is now dead after a car accident that took place on Saturday morning on an Indiana toll road.
The student reportedly majored in biology with an emphasis on education at the middle school and high school levels. He belonged to an education honor society and a fraternity on campus and also participated in cross-country. These, however, represent just a portion of his campus activities. In addition, he worked as an assistant cross-country coach for a local high school where he had also performed the classroom hours required to complete his degree.
Details surrounding the accident remain vague. Authorities report the recent graduate’s vehicle, a sedan, catching fire near the entrance ramp that allows drivers access to the toll road from northbound Interstate 35. The cause of the crash is not clear, nor is it clear whether the sedan caught fire before, during or after the accident.
A statement by a Quincy University spokesperson indicated that the campus will provide access to grief counselors for staff, students or faculty who wish to talk about the accident that claimed the recent graduate’s life. There has been no known notification from the local high school where he worked indicating whether its administrators also intend to provide access to counseling.
In a tragic situation like this, it is difficult to call anything fortunate. Nevertheless, it is fortunate that the crash involved no other drivers, passengers or pedestrians, meaning that no further injuries or deaths occurred. However, that is not always the case in an accident such as this, and those who have sustained an injury in a collision with another vehicle may find it helpful to consult an attorney.