Wilmington HS Community Remembers Crash Victim As Talented Trumpeter
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The twinkle in Shane McQuiston's eye would light up a room; but for those who loved the 15-year-old, that light went out late last Friday.
"It was devastating - just altogether for everybody," said Rachel Vernon, a friend.
Vernon can't believe that McQuiston won't be just down the line in the marching band.
"He was such a happy kid," she said. "He always made everything so much fun."
McQuiston, a sophomore at Wilmington High School, was being driven home by his buddy, 17-year-old Ethan Seeber on South Valley View Road Friday night.
"A deer ran out in front of him," says Pulaski Township Officer Randall Courson, who was first at the scene. "He swerved to miss that deer."
The bright red pick-up rolled over an embankment onto its roof in the chill waters of Deer Creek. Seeber was injured. McQuiston died at the hospital.
For teacher and golf coach Jamie Canciello, this first day back at class was tough to process the loss.
"Thinking about Shane, and his family and the student body here," said Canciello. "I think Saturday night was a good start."
At Saturday's Greyhounds basketball game, students lit up the social network bringing the community together for an emotional "White Out" in McQuiston's memory.
"Just being good kids. Who knew," band chaperone and teacher Sally Hiers said, still having a hard time believing that McQuiston is gone.
Aside from hunting, fishing and debating which tractor is the best, McQuiston was a talented trumpeter in the marching and concert bands.
On Saturday morning, the band director paid a visit to McQuiston mom, giving her something that she could hold onto.
"He took his trumpet over to the house, and the band jacket that Shane didn't ever get to wear," said Hiers.
The beautiful band jacket with name, trumpet and graduation year emblazoned in the back would have been McQuiston's at next month's band banquet.
RELATED LINKS:
1 Dies, 1 In Hospitalized After Car Goes Over Bridge In Pulaski Twp. (1/4/13)
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