STARK COUNTY, Ohio — Officials confirm a Canton Central Catholic High School student is dead following a car crash near Toledo Sunday night.
Police say the incident occurred just before 9 p.m., when the vehicle "traveling at a high rate of speed" went off U.S. Route 24 near Key and West Streets and slammed into a tree. Canton Central Catholic Principal David Oates told WKYC the victim is indeed 16-year-old Jacob Brown, a junior at the high school and a member of the Crusaders' boys soccer team.
Oates released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"Our community is very sad to have to share the news of the loss of Jacob. Central Catholic is a small, close-knit community and his loss will be felt deeply by our Crusader family. Students, staff and our families have been informed of his passing. We have our guidance counselors, campus minister, and President Father Donald King on hand to talk and pray with any student, staff member or family member who needs them. Please keep Jacob and his family in your prayers."
Jacob and his team had been scheduled to host Loudonville tonight in the opening round of the OHSAA Division III boys soccer tournament. Instead, that game has been postponed until Tuesday at 6 p.m., and the Brown family will be honored prior to kickoff, and members of the community are encouraged to attend and wear white.
"We are all deeply saddened to share the loss faced by the Brown family," Rev. Donald King, President of Stark County Catholic Schools, said. "As we do in all things, we have come together in prayer, and we ask the community to join us as we pray for Jacob and his family and friends who need God's comfort now more than ever. May Jacob's soul rest in peace."
Besides the changes to the soccer game, tonight's Canton Central Catholic Booster Club meeting has been canceled, along with Tuesday's "Beat Aquinas" bonfire and Thursday's planned pep rally prior to that night's football game against archrival St. Thomas Aquinas. In lieu of the festivities, the school will hold a prayer service for Jacob, and he will again be remembered at the beginning of the game.
Authorities say Brown, a Canton area resident, was the only one in the car at the time of the crash. The matter is still under investigation.