TEKOA, WA. -- A local teen who would have turned 18-years-old Wednesday died Tuesday night in a rollover crash near Tekoa.
Spokane County Sheriff's deputies say Zachary Smith, 17, was driving his SUV on Wheeler Road near Painter Road in South Spokane County around 10:45 p.m. He lost control of the vehicle, and it rolled into a ditch.
Smith was thrown about 25 feet from the crash site. He was not wearing restraints at the time. Deputies say excessive speed likely played a role in the crash.
Deputies say Smith was at a friends house prior to the crash, and called home to report he was coming back for the night. When he failed to arrive, Smith's parents set out in their vehicle to find him.
Deputies say the couple hit a deer during their search, disabling their vehicle, and asked Smith's brother to help. He found Zachary's rolled SUV around 10:45 p.m. and called 911.
The Tekoa community, especially the high school, is so small that everyone knew Zachary Smith. When news spread of his death, teachers say everyone was devastated.
"He was a person you wanted to be around, you wanted him in your program, you wanted him on your team," said Smith's teacher Dan Hutton. He knew Zachary his whole life. Hutton taught Zachary in agriculture business class and advised him in Future Farmers of America. They traveled together to several FAA competitions. Hutton says Zach was a good kid and his absence Wednesday was obvious in the hallways of Tekoa High School.
Hutton also says Zachary was a good athlete, having played both football and golf. He says Zachary was positive. He was Student Body President and active in the community.
"He loved the outdoors, he was a hunter, he liked anything that went fast: snowmobiles and motorcycles, anything to be with his friends," said Hutton.
Zachary was the youngest of four children. Hutton says his goal is to help students and the family cope with their loss.
Students have scheduled a bonfire Friday night as a memorial for Zachary.
