FALMOUTH, Mass. — The single-car crash happened around 6:30 p.m. on Thomas Landers Road near Sam Turner Road Thursday. The two victims were Falmouth High School hockey players who had just left practice.
The 17-year-old driver, James Lavin, died at the scene. The passenger, 17-year-old Owen Higgins, was taken to a Rhode Island hospital by medical helicopter with life-threatening injuries. He passed away Friday afternoon.
Friday marked the first day of holiday break for students, but the school remained open with grief counselors on hand. Owen and James were best friends, said Hockey Coach Paul Moore Friday during a news conference.
"Best friends, connected at the hip…when they say they took the good young, these were two good ones,” he said.
Owen was recently voted captain of the hockey team and James was one of their emotional leaders, said Moore.
“Two remarkable young men, who put their footprint of this community – not just in the classroom, not just on the ice arena, and not just on the football field,” said Moore.
Both boys also played for the varsity football team and had helped the team win the state championship this year.
"A lot of people loved those two kids like I did,” said Football Coach Derek Almeida.
The superintendent of Falmouth Public Schools said the school remained open so that the students "could come and have people to talk to who know them and understand them."
Police said what caused the crash is still under investigation.
Other HS hockey teams tweeted their support for members of the Falmouth Community.
TRENDING STORIES
[ Officials: Couple overdosed, baby starved to death days later ]
[ Life on the street as a homeless person during the holidays ]
[ Girl with autism stuns with heartwarming performance of 'Hallelujah' ]