SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Horizon High School baseball players are praying for the family of a former classmate who was killed in a terrible accident on Interstate 10 and for three others who are recovering.
Varsity player John Partin said the school community is remaining close after the tragic accident.
“It took a couple of hours for it to really set in, like he’s gone," Partin said. "I went and looked at pictures on social media and he’s smiling and happy and it didn’t feel real.”
Word quickly spread on the field and social media that Joseph Smith was killed in the crash.
"His parents and his friends invested all of this time into him into becoming who he is and just then, he was taken away from us," Partin said.
DJ Purcell, Kevin Hurley and Matt West were badly hurt in the crash.
"They were always smiling," friend Cameron Doherty said. "They cared for everyone. They're good people."
These high school teammates are hoping their friends will recover quickly.
They are also remembering Smith, who was taken too soon.
“I would just tell him that, 'Thanks for the time and thanks for the experience of getting to know you,'" Partin said. "He was such a nice guy. I’d wish him the best of luck in college.”