Spartanburg Co. high school student-athlete dies following crash

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – An Upstate high school student-athlete died early Monday morning following a UTV side-by-side crash in Spartanburg County.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office identified 16-year-old Ethan Harrell, of Inman, as the victim in the fatal ATV crash that occurred early Sunday morning in Chesnee.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said Harrell and two others were traveling north on an off-road side-by-side on Hardin Road near Henry Road after midnight when the vehicle went off the right side of the road and overturned.

Harrell was one of the passengers according to troopers. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to their injuries early Monday morning before 2 a.m.

According to Spartanburg County School District Two, Harrell was an 11th grader at Boiling Springs High School who played pitcher and 1st base on the baseball team.

“He had a great sense of humor and loved talking about trucks, motors and hunting,” said Head Coach Jeff Lipscomb. “Ethan was a great team player that everyone loved.”

The school district provided counselors and special services team members on-site at Boiling Springs High School Monday morning for students and staff as they grieved Harrell’s loss.

“He was always positive, well-mannered and was loved & respected by his peers as well as the faculty and staff at BSHS,” Principal Zack McQuigg said.

“I’ve never heard anyone say a negative word about Ethan, and he always represented his family and school community in a positive manner. He will be missed dearly.”

District officials mentioned that they will continue to provide grief resources for as long as it is needed at the BSHS campus.

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