'Quiet, sweet boy' dies in Morrisville crash, 4 other teens injured

Police said a 17-year-old driver was traveling west on Morrisville Parkway near Duck Pond Circle around 1 a.m. when she lost control of the vehicle and crossed a median.

Johnathan Pooley, 18, of Apex, was one of two teenagers ejected from the car when it flipped multiple times. Pooley died at the scene of the crash, police said.

Pooley's grandfather said he was a "quiet, sweet boy" and had just turned 18.

"It's awful; it's really sad," said a friend of Pooley, whose mother asked she not be identified by WRAL News because of privacy concerns. "We've known each other for about 5 or 6 years. He was such a great person; he was such a sweet boy."

The other 18-year-old passenger ejected in the crash was in critical condition as of Sunday morning. A third person was also seriously injured in the crash.

Chris Rasberry, who lives close to the crash site, said he was watching a movie when he heard a loud crash.

"I immediately ran over there to see if there's anything I could do," said Rasberry. "There's people laying on the ground. It was terrifying in a way."

Police said the female driver was the only person in the car wearing a seatbelt and received minor injuries in the crash.

The Morrisville Aquatics Center sign was completely destroyed from the crash.

Police said speed, and possibly alcohol, may have contributed to the crash.

Rasberry said he's seen and heard other incidents involving speeding on Morrisville Parkway.

"I routinely hear vehicles speeding up and down. I come out [and] they're racing up and down the road," he said.

Pooley's friend said she hopes this crash changes the perspective of her peers when they get behind the wheel.

"Do not get behind the wheel intoxicated and please wear a seatbelt because these things are happening way too often," she said.