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Crest HS students mourn classmate killed after crashing car into tree

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — Students at Crest High School in Cleveland County are mourning the loss of a classmate.

Jody Fox died Sunday morning when he crashed his car along Chatfield Road after leaving a friend's house, heading home.

Troopers from the North Carolina Highway Patrol said Fox was speeding when he hit a tree and that there was no indication he tried to stop or swerve.

"The speed limit on that portion of the road is 55. At my estimation, he was going well over that, approximately 70 mph," Trooper Richard Hall said.

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The crash happened just miles away from his home.

On Monday, troopers went to Crest High School hoping to talk to some of Fox's friends.

"The question of where he was coming from and where was he headed. The question of what caused him to run off the road if we can figure that out," Hall explained.

The school had counselors ready to help grieving classmates Monday.

"It's crazy. It was like he was just in school, and he is gone just that quick,” classmate Charles Borders said.

After school ended, a group of heartbroken classmates laid flowers at the spot where Fox died.

"He made a huge impact on everybody's life,” classmate Erika Terry said.

The students were in ROTC with Fox.

"I wish I had spent more time with him,” classmate Cody Matamoros said.

Students also wrote messages in Fox's parking space and created a banner in his honor.

Fox had just turned 18 last month and would have graduated in June.

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