CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The investigation into the crash that killed Midlothian High School student Wyatt Fowler continued on Monday, according to Chesterfield Police.
Fowler, 15, was a passenger in the 2016 Chevrolet Impala that crashed at about 12:13 a.m. on December 30, 2023, on Brandermill Parkway near the intersection of Barnes Spring Road.
"[The Impala] was traveling north when it left the roadway and struck a tree. [Fowler] was pronounced dead at the scene," a Chesterfield Police spokesperson wrote in an email about the weekend crash. "The remaining occupants were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening."
Police have not yet confirmed the name and age of the driver or others in the crashed car, but did confirm there were five people total in the car.
As news of the crash traveled through the Midlothian community, a memorial near the site and a GoFundMe set up to help the grieving family continued to grow.
Fowler's younger sister was one of the people who gathered to grieve on Monday.
"All these people coming up to me and [asking] are you okay? Now I'm seeing that he's actually really popular," she said during a visit to the crash site.
The 12-year-old called her big brother really nice and said he was happy all the time.
"I love him. And now I really miss him," she said. "He's in a better place. And he can use the Jesus telephone. He can always call me if he needs me."
Brayden Delaney played travel lacrosse with Wyatt and described his close friend as an exceptionally caring and giving person who adored his family.
"My heart goes out to [his sister] and his mom because those were probably two of the people he loved the most," Delaney said. "When you’re with him, he’s always bringing up his mom and sister. He always brings up how he loves them. Most of the stuff he does is for his mom and his sister."
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“Just really hard to see a young life ended like that. Just really tragic," Michelle Barker, who lives near the crash scene, said. "[The crash victims' friends] were just praying and comforting each other [at the crash scene memoral]. It was, you know, heartbreaking. Just glad that they’re supporting each other."
Fowler played football for Midlothian High School.
"Football creates a brotherhood, a bond that’s never broken, even in a tremendous loss such as this," the Chesterfield Quarterback League posted on social media. "We stand with those mourning the passing of this incredible student athlete, and pray for God’s peace to be with every one who knew Wyatt and his family."
"Wyatt was a very kind and charismatic Midlothian HS student and student-athlete who will be greatly missed by many within the Midlo community, including me," Midlothian High School principal Shawn Abel said in a statement about the loss. "Our thoughts are with his family during this terribly difficult time."
Anyone with information about the crash was asked to call Chesterfield Police at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
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