Community prays together after Columbia, IL teen killed in crash [Video]

A tragic car accident Sunday left a Metro East teen dead. A gathering in Columbia, Illinois, attended by hundreds honored the memory of the teen, Crawford Bryant.

“He was just an awesome guy,” Bryant’s friend Hayes Van Breusegen told 5 On Your Side.

Three other teens are recovering Monday night, one of them suffering life-threatening injuries. All were students at Columbia High School.

The crash happened Sunday afternoon on Hanover Road in Monroe County, just moments after a police officer saw a car speeding on Illinois Route 3.

At a Monday night candlelight vigil, it was hard for many people to not get choked up.

Bryant was a sophomore at Columbia High School who played varsity soccer. Monday night, his teammates and coaches tearfully talked about how perseverant and kind …