A South Carolina high school football star was killed Saturday evening when his off-road vehicle flipped over, leaving communities in the western part of the state in deep mourning.
Cruz Evatt Ellenburg, 16, a sophomore wide receiver and backup quarterback for Pickens High School, died after the utility terrain vehicle rolled over while he was “unrestrained,” according to the Daily Mail.
Ellenburg’s best friend took to Instagram in a heartbreaking post viewed by the outlet to pay tribute to the late teen.
“From 6th grade all the way to your final moments, I’m glad I was here for it all. I’m grateful I got to call you my best friend,” they wrote.
“We were at our closest and it felt like we were just getting started, which makes saying goodbye that much harder.”
Cruz’s girlfriend wrote on Instagram that despite their age the pair had planned out their life together.
“It may sound silly because we are only 16 but me and cruz planned our lives out together, get married, have 2 kids, and have a zoo of all the animals I wanted in our backyard,” she wrote.
“Cruz was such an amazing person, my prayers go out to his family and his friends. I appreciate all of you for making cruz the person he was.”
Pickens High School offered heartfelt condolences for the teen, who had just earned “player of the game” honors for the junior varsity team shortly before the tragedy, according to the team’s official X account.
“Our hearts are with Cruz’s family, friends, classmates, and the entire Pickens High School community during this very difficult time,” Pickens County School District said in a statement.
“Out of respect for Cruz’s family, the district will not share additional details regarding the accident. We ask our community to keep the Ellenburg family and all who knew and loved Cruz in their thoughts and prayers.”
Local and national political leaders also chimed in to echo the community’s grief over the devastating loss.
“My heart is broken at the tragic news of the death of Cruz Ellenberg, a Sophomore at Pickens High School following a UTV accident,” wrote US Representative Sheri Biggs on Instagram.
“I join the entire upstate in mourning his loss and join in their prayers for his family, friends, classmates, and the entire community,” the post continued.
Pickens Mayor Isaiah Scipio memorialized Ellenburg as a “vibrant student” who was “gone too soon.”
“We as a community grieve over the loss of a young vibrant student, Cruz Evatt Ellenburg and I believe we all feel that he is gone too soon.”
“I am praying for his family, his school family, his football family. and all of us in this community. When one hurts, we all feel the pain. One Pickens, One Love.”
A fundraiser on Supportnow was created to help the Ellenburg family with living expenses.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash.
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