STEUBEN, Maine — A boy from Sullivan has been identified as the passenger who died Sunday in a crash in Steuben.
Cole Merchant, 17, was killed when the vehicle he was riding in crashed into a large tree on the passenger side, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said Monday in a news release.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 18-year-old Chase Atwater of Steuben, was traveling south on Unionville Road in Steuben when the vehicle reportedly went airborne while traveling over a hill, causing Atwater to lose control of the vehicle.
Maine State Police troopers responded to the crash at about 1:30 p.m., where they discovered Merchant dead at the scene. Atwater suffered minor injuries and was brought to a local hospital, according to the release.
Speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
Sumner Memorial High School Principal Jackson Green shared a letter Sunday evening to the RSU 24 community on Facebook, stating that two senior students were involved in the crash.
"This unforeseen event has shaken our school community profoundly. In such challenging times, our primary focus is on supporting the affected families and offering our utmost care and compassion," Green wrote. "Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the students involved."
Green also stated that mental health resources and counseling services would be made available at the school.
A candlelight vigil has been planned for 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Sumner Memorial Park gazebo.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help support Merchant's family. There, he is described as a "promising mechanic."