Crash Claims Life of 16-Year-Old Crest High Student-Athlete
A 16-year-old student from Crest High School has died following a single-vehicle crash Thursday evening.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Parker James Earl of Lawndale was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on College Avenue in Boiling Springs.
Troopers say Earl was traveling east on College Avenue near Vick Wilson Road when the 2000 Ford Ranger he was driving ran off the roadway, struck a ditch, overturned, and collided with a tree. Authorities reported that Earl was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.
A sophomore at Crest High School, Earl was preparing to contribute to the Chargers baseball program this spring. School officials confirmed the tragic loss in a statement shared on social media, expressing deep sympathy for his family, friends, and classmates.
Counselors and support staff have been made available to help students cope with the loss. The school also postponed previously scheduled basketball games to Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Support has poured in from across Cleveland County Schools and neighboring campuses. Shelby High School and Burns High School athletics programs, along with the Kings Mountain High School athletic department, shared messages of prayer, unity, and compassion for the Crest community.
The loss has deeply impacted students, staff, and families throughout the area as they mourn the passing of a young life taken too soon.
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