Friends, Classmates Remember Teen Killed In Lunenberg Crash
LUNENBERG (CBS) -- The Lunenburg community is mourning the loss of high school football star that was killed in a car crash early Saturday morning.
Classmates arrived at the scene of the crash to pay their respects to 18-year-old Austin Robbins, who had just graduated from Lunenberg High School in May.
Lunenberg High School Principal Brian Spadafino told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe that Robbins was a popular football player who was well-loved in the school community.
"He had a smile that would light up the room," Spadafino said. "He was respected by his classmates, staff, and faculty. He got along with everybody. He's going to be greatly missed."
Police say 19-year-old Joseph Kapp of Gardner was drunk when he crashed his car into several trees on Hollis Road, killing Robbins and injuring a second passenger, Sean McNiff, 19, of Lunenburg.
Kapp is now facing multiple drunken driving charges and one charge of motor vehicle homicide. He is being held on $10,000 bail and is due in court on Monday.
"I feel for that family as well, because there's a huge sense of loss and probably guilt," said Spadafino. "Their lives are changed, just like the Robbinses, different, I know it's different, but a lot of people are affected by this tragedy, and it's just terrible."
Friends remembered Robbins as a goofy class-clown type, who was always there for them. Spadafino said football was probably his greatest passion.
Lunenberg High junior George Tibbets played football with Austin, and said he was a born leader--someone who brought that team together.
"Just his energy, he always had a positive mentality," said Tibbets. "In the last three games that he was playing with us, he was injured. But he stuck through it, he gave it everything he had for those last three weeks."
At the crash scene on Hollis Road, tears and hugs were exchanged.
Joseph Brissette was a childhood friend of Robbins.
"He was a very genuine kid," said Brissette. "Always happy, and cared about everybody else."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
