ST. FRANCISVILLE —- A West Feliciana High School senior was killed Monday afternoon in a head-on collision near West Feliciana High school.
West Feliciana Sheriff Brian Spillman says the crash happened around 2:45pm on Bains Rd. near Hwy. 61, close to the high school.
The preliminary investigation reveals a red Ford Mustang driven by Nicholas David, 17, of St. Francisville, crossed the center line on Bains Rd. and hit a gravel truck head-on.
David’s passenger, Brayden McEachern, 18, also of St Francisville, was injured and airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital. McEachern is improving daily.
The truck belonged to West Feliciana Parish Government. The operator was not injured.
West Feliciana Schools Superintendent Hollis Milton said he’d known David for a while, and he was a good kid.
“He loved welding,” Milton explained. “We have a new career tech center, and he was such a bright spot in there, and I’d go to see him in there. He was a hard worker, and you could tell welding was something he really enjoyed and was good at. He was always a kid with just this electric smile and friendly.”
Milton said David gifted him a flower weld. The gift will be something he holds on to as a way to remember the young teen.
“It’s a real pretty object,” Milton said. “I’ve kept that and enjoyed it. It’s been on my desk, and I’m gonna keep it as a reminder of him. He was a nice kid with a big heart and just fun-loving. He was always a lot of fun.”
“A loss is always hard, and an unexpected loss is even harder,” he continued. “And then for a child, a teenager, to pass away, you know, is one of the most incredibly difficult things to ever imagine and experience. My heart goes out to his mom and his family, his friends, and to his classmates because that’s a really difficult thing anytime a child unexpectedly passes away.”
Milton said Thursday afternoon that McEachern is progressing, although he still faces some challenges to get back to full health.
“I’m just asking everybody to continue praying for those families,” Milton said. “We’re praying for lots of peace and love to be shown toward the David family and prayers for continued healing for Brayden McEachern and his family.”
“In a community as small as ours, many people know Nicholas and his family. It’s difficult for us all to grasp how quickly a life can be taken. The entire community is saddened by this tragic loss,” said Spillman.
The crash remains under investigation.
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