Menomonee Falls fatal crash; teen driver remembered
Teen remembered after Menomonee Falls fatal crash
A Hamilton High School student is dead after crashing into a tree in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday, April 1.
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - A Hamilton High School student is dead after crashing into a tree in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday, April 1.
What we know:
Classmates identified the student as Owen Briggs. He was a junior.
A memorial was held at the scene of the crash on Wednesday, April 2.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The backstory:
The Menomonee Falls Police Department said it happened Tuesday afternoon near Lannon and Lisbon. It was a single-vehicle crash.
The vehicle went off the road and struck a tree.
Police say the vehicle involved, a Toyota Corolla, had been traveling northbound on Lannon Road when the crash occurred. When crews arrived at the scene, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Menomonee Falls fatal crash; 1 dead, cause undetermined
One person is dead after a crash in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday, April 1.
Briggs was pronounced dead at the scene.
What they're saying:
On Wednesday, students said teachers told them what happened.
Students said they are still in disbelief that their friend's life ended so soon. Honoring him, his peers made signs with his jersey number 57, each signing a football helmet.
Jaden Firehammer is a junior at Hamilton High School. He's devastated over the loss of Briggs, his longtime friend and football teammate.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
"I almost feel sick to my stomach seeing this because I was with him earlier that day," Firehammer said. "We were just talking about how he wanted to be in the NFL, how he wanted to strive for greatness."
"Everybody was just shocked. I went out the room. I needed some time," teammate Allen Glover said. "I went down to student services and they got me with a counselor."
The Hamilton School District said its student services team will be offering support for students and staff.
What we don't know:
Police said while speed appears to have been a factor, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Source: The Menomonee Falls Police Department provided information and FOX6 attended the vigil.