Blythewood, S.C : Westwood High athlete dies in car wreck in Blythewood on Thursday night, March 30, 2017
Blythewood, South Carolina
A rising senior student and athlete at Westwood High has died.
Ellis Hawkins died Thursday night in a wreck that happened at Wilson Boulevard at Fulmer Road in Blythewood, according to county officials. The S.C. Highway Patrol reported the wreck occurred at 6:08 p.m. after a 2005 Saturn traveled into the path of oncoming traffic and was struck by a 2010 Cadillac.
Hawkins, 16, was a restrained rear-seat passenger in the Saturn.
He was transported to Palmetto Health Richland hospital where he died at 9:21 p.m., according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.
Watts said an autopsy indicated Hawkins died from multiple trauma from the collision.
The driver of his vehicle, 17-year-old Kevonte Miller, another unnamed passenger and the driver of the Cadillac were transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Ellis was an junior and a member of the school’s varsity football and basketball teams, according to Westwood High Principal Chery Guy.
“We are saddened and our hearts are heavy here,” Guy said in a statement. “On behalf of all of the students, teachers and staff at Westwood, I extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the Hawkins family. Ellis will be missed by his friends, teammates and teachers and will always be part of the Redhawk Family.”
Guy also said additional counselors are on campus to help students and employees.
Hawkins played linebacker and defensive end for the Redhawks. He had 38 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss this season on the football field.
“Ellis Hawkins was an unbelievable friend, player, son, and teammate,” Westwood football coach Dustin Curtis said. “He embodied everything we want our kids to be in the Westwood football program. His energy was infectious, his work ethic one to model, and his smile could light up the room. We are all blessed as Redhawks to have been a part of his life. Ellis is with the Lord, and in Him we will never forget.”
Hawkins also was a member of the Redhawks basketball team.
"Ellis was the epitome of what we want our players to be," Westwood basketball coach Jeff Dibattisto said. "He was a good basketball player but an even better person who always put others above himself. He always had great energy and an infectious smile. We are going to miss him tremendously."
He was remembered on social media, many posting to Twitter with the hashtag #EH45.
Source :
Westwood High athlete dies in car wreck