Family, friends remember Lunenburg teen killed in crash

LUNENBURG, Mass. — Hundreds of students, friends and community members gathered on the football field at Lunenburg High School to remember a student who was killed in a car wreck early Saturday morning.

The gathering Sunday night allowed friends and fellow students to remember Austin Robbins, 18, who was killed the car he was in ran off the road and hit several trees, according to the Worcester County District Attorney.

Another passenger in the car, Sean McNiff, 19, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

“We got the call at 3 in the morning.” Sean McNiff’s father, Tom, said Sunday. “Well, [they’ve] known each other since third or fourth grade. It's a tragedy…all three of them were best friends.”

McNiff told FOX25 the teens were coming back from a house party in Fitchburg.

Robbins played defensive end and defensive tackle for Lunenburg High school and a candlelight vigil was held on the field in honor of the teen.

“He’s a great kid. He always put a smile on everyone’s faces,” Robbins’ friend Shamus Gorman said.

“He's a young man that got along with everyone,” Lunenburg High School’s principal Brian Spadafino said. “His personality, that was larger than life.”

The driver, 19-year-old Joseph Knapp of Gardner, was later arrested and charged with OUI in relation to the crash.

Cox Media Group