|
Willett
Heusmann |
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Two Riverbend High School students died in a car crash yesterday morning, just days before Spotsylvania County schools open Monday.
Erik Louis Heusmann and Clayton Keith Willett, both 18, died at the scene soon after the Ford F-150 pickup Heusmann was driving crashed into a tree, said Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the state police.
The teens were traveling eastbound on State Route 3 near State Route 640 about 5:55 a.m. and went around a curve at "a high rate of speed."
They veered off the left side of the road, hit a ditch and the truck began to roll until it was stopped by a tree, Tyler said. Both were wearing seat belts.
Spotsylvania school spokeswoman Sara Branner refused to release information yesterday, saying she had not received confirmation that all family members had been notified about the fatalities.
Mario Heusmann, 29, said he didn't know where his younger brother was headed yesterday. The 18-year-old had a big heart and liked video games, sports and reading books, he said.
When Mario Heusmann needed help moving from Tennessee to Virginia, his brother drove the six hours to help, no questions asked.
"He was always there for anybody that needed him," Mario Heusmann said.
Yesterday afternoon, skid marks on Route 3 showed where the truck began to veer as it was coming out of the curve.
Vehicle parts lay in the ditch, and the tree was scarred.
At Riverbend a few miles away, students practicing for various athletic teams shared their memories.
Student Alex Blackman said of Heusmann, "People are gonna miss him."
"He was always happy," said Ali Brissett, an 18-year-old football player and one of Heusmann's classmates. "We were in classes together and we'd always talk about girls and stuff."
Mario Heusmann said his brother was intelligent and planned to boost his grade-point average so he could get into a good college.
"I hope these kids learn a lesson from this," he said. "You know they say to live for the day and this and that. But you have a life to live, and other people are affected by your actions."
None of Willett's family members could be reached yesterday.
Heusmann and Willett are the latest Riverbend students killed in car wrecks in the past 14 months. Rising juniors Brandon Bates and Hunter Garner died in June 2007, when Bates lost control of his green BMW on Spotswood Furnace Road and struck some trees.
Project Yellow Light, a safe-driving campaign, was established in Garner's name and awarded its first scholarship to a student in March.
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com
