Germantown student identified as driver killed in crash

A Germantown High School junior was tragically killed in a car accident Wednesday afternoon.
The Memphis Police Department initially identified the victim as 16-year-old Christopher Hess, but Shelby County Schools and family tell Action News 5 the victim is named Christion Hess.

Hess was driving a black Nissan Pathfinder when investigators say he veered off of the road and hit a tree. His SUV rolled and then hit a wooden fence.He was pronounced dead on the scene."He was a junior at Germantown High School and he just come from a beautiful family and I can't say nothing but I'm praying for the family and I'm here to support them all the way," said family friend James Staples.Twitter feeds were flooded with condolences and news about the crash.Staples says he has children and is always nervous when they are on the road.

"We need to hug our children and enjoy life when we have them and they have us because we just don't know what can happen," he said.
Original reports said three vehicles were involved in the accident, but witnesses say Hess' vehicle was the only one.

"We really need to be prayerful of when our children leave the home in the daytime, that they return in the afternoon," added Staples.
What caused Hess to crash has not yet been determined.