Local News

Harnett student killed in crash; sister injured

A 17-year-old Western Harnett High School junior was killed in a crash Friday morning and his 14-year-old sister was injured, according to troopers.

Posted Updated

LILLINGTON, N.C. — A 17-year-old Western Harnett High School junior was killed in a crash Friday morning and his 14-year-old sister was injured, according to troopers.

Ryan Austin Eatmon was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer about 70 mph in a 55 mph zone when he overcorrected and crashed on Spring Hill Church Road, between Stancil and Farrar roads, around 7:10 a.m., troopers said.

He died in the crash. His sister, Devyn Eatmon, a student at Western Harnett Middle School, was taken to Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn. She suffered a concussion and a broken right arm.

Ryan was a "strong Christian boy," according to his friend Kennedey Pate, a senior at the school.

"He was a really sweet guy, really well known, really easy to get along with," she said.

Before he left for school with his sister and crashed, Ryan posted 55 words on his Facebook page about the meaning of Good Friday and how Jesus was "tormented and crucified for you."

"Think about that, all of you who just think this is a half day (of school)," he wrote.

Ryan wrestled and played golf, according to friends. A teacher, who declined to be identified, emailed WRAL News to say that Ryan hoped to improve his grades, get admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and become a film director.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.