High school football player in California killed in tragic car wreck
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Tragedy has struck one California community as it was reported that a high school football player passed away in a car wreck Monday evening.
David Hernandez, Lyndsay Winkley, and Karen Pearlman with The San Diego Union-Tribune shared the story. William Burton, a 17-year old multi-sport athlete from Granite Hills High School, was killed after the vehicle he was a passenger in lost control and veered into oncoming traffic.
According to the story, Burton played football and baseball with a number of colleges interested in recruiting him. His father and uncle played for San Diego State and his brother plays for UCLA.
Burton was riding in the rear compartment of a Jeep with two friends when the driver lost control, over corrected, and slammed into an oncoming vehicle.
Burton, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and passed away before arriving at the hospital. The others involved in the wreck sustained injuries, but none appear to be life threatening.
James Davis, Burton’s baseball coach, said the loss of the young athlete is a pain felt by all in the community:
“If there is any good in this, it’s that the community of East County has all been wishing us well and feeling our pain,” the coach said. “And I think it’s a pain shared by all.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Burton’s family and the community as they deal with this loss.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
