STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — An 18-year-old high school senior died in a crash on SW Pratt Whitney Road shortly before graduation practice on Thursday morning.
According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Christopher Brooks of Hobe Sound was driving northbound when he rear-ended a stopped dump truck near the intersection of SW Pratt Whitney Road and SW Bulldog Way around 8:58 a.m. Witnesses reported the vehicle failed to slow down before the collision.
Emergency personnel from Martin County Fire Rescue responded to the scene, but Brooks was pronounced dead. His grandparents were present at the crash site.
Sheriff John Budensiek indicated that factors surrounding the crash, such as Brooks' speed and potential distractions, remain under investigation. It is uncertain whether Brooks was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
“This morning highlights how fragile life is. For reasons yet unknown, he drove into the back of the dump truck without hitting the brakes,” Budensiek said.
Jennifer DeShazo, Chief of Staff for the Martin County School District, expressed the community's heartbreak, emphasizing the tragic loss right before graduation. The ceremony is still scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight but will carry a somber tone.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office stated that the Florida Highway Patrol will lead the investigation into the accident. Further details have not yet been released.