FORT THOMAS, KY : Highlands' 2011 valedictorian killed in car crash on May 14th 2014

Randy Runyan was only back in town for a few days when an auto accident took his life and put his grandfather's life in jeopardy.

The 2011 valedictorian from Highlands High School was killed in an auto accident just days after graduating from college.

Randy Runyan, 21, was driving his grandfather to get a hair cut when his vehicle was struck by a truck on Memorial Parkway in Fort Thomas Wednesday afternoon.

Runyan was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the hospital.

This is the type of news "you have nightmares" about getting, said Highlands High School Principal Brian Robinson.

"It is my understanding he was only back in town for a few days," Robinson said.

Runyan was an "exceptionally quiet and polite" young man who tended to be a little shy. But his death has affected the whole town, Robinson said.

"It's a young man who had just an enormous amount of potential and an enormous amount of talent. It's definitely a tragedy," he said.

Runyan's 79-year-old grandfather, Robert Cowie, was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after the crash.

He was still in critical condition Thursday morning, according to Lt. Rich Whitford of the Fort Thomas Police Department.

The truck that struck Runyan was operated by 19-year-old Mitch Miller of Cold Spring. He was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital as a precaution and was released, Whitford said.

The passenger in Miller's truck was not injured.

Whitford said Runyan graduated from Wake Forest University a year early and was planning on getting his doctorate.

"The whole community is affected," he said.

"This is a kid that didn't drink -- just a great kid (and) so intelligent. To be able to graduate in three years from Wake Forest says who that child was."

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Highlands' 2011 valedictorian killed in car crash