Orono High School senior, 17, killed in fiery crash in Minnetonka
MINNETONKA, Minn. — A teenager died in a fiery crash in the west metro on Sunday evening.
Officials say the 17-year-old boy from Corcoran was driving a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq eastbound on Highway 7. At around 10:45 p.m., at County Road 101 in Minnetonka, he left the road and struck a light pole.
The car and the light pole then caught on fire, traffic camera video from the scene shows.
On Monday, Orono Schools, with the family's permission, confirmed the driver had been high school senior Lucas Knudson.
Later that evening, friends and teammates of Knudson gathered at his parents' home for a candlelight vigil. Knudson was a longtime basketball player for Orono.
"It's been a tough day. I think everyone is just in a bit of shock," said coach Barry Wohler.
Monday was supposed to be the team's first day of practice for the season, but it was canceled in light of the accident.
"I've known Lucas since he's been in kindergarten and he's been part of the basketball program since forever. Our seniors are a very tight-knit group," Wohler said.
Wohler said Kudson was the team's "energizer" and had a personality that could light up the room.
"The guys knew he loved them and he was more happy for other people's successes than his own, and we're just going to miss him so much he was just an outstanding young man," he said.
The senior has big dreams of going on to play college basketball.
"He was just telling us he got into the U of M and Indiana for business," a teammate of his recalled.
The tight-knit basketball team is now leaning on each other as they start a new season, they said, will be dedicated to Knudson.
"It's just so sad. It's hard to focus on the basketball aspect of it at this point, but might as well win it for him," said another teammate.
Knudson leaves behind his parents and two older sisters who both graduated from Orono High School.
"Lucas came to Orono in Kindergarten and was an outstanding student," Orono Schools Superintendent Kristine Flesher and Principal Amy Steiner said in a joint letter to families in the district. "He was a starting player on the OHS varsity basketball team and participated in Unified and Letters of Love. He had many other interests and was a friend to all."
Grief support will be available to students at Orono High School through school counselors and support teams.