A Georgia high school football player died in a hit-and-run while trying to save an injured dog — and local police are still trying to identify and arrest the culprit.
Samuel Johnson Jr., 16, was walking down a street in Valdosta around 6:15 Saturday afternoon when he noticed an injured dog in the street, the Valdosta Police Department said.
“Johnson saw a dog that had been hit by an unknown vehicle, so he went to help the injured dog. While attempting to rescue the injured dog, Johnson was struck and killed by a second vehicle passing through the area,” the department’s official statement read.
The car that hit Johnson did not stop, and passersby later found the teenager lying in the grass while the now-dead dog lay in the road, police said.
Johnson was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson is an outside linebacker on the storied Valdosta High School Wildcats football team, the team roster shows.
His teammates and coaches are “heartbroken and devastated” by his sudden death, the team’s official statement on Instagram said.
Samuel Johnson Jr. died after being hit by a car on Saturday. Valdosta Wildcat Football /Instagram
The emotional post featured a photo of Johnson holding his yellow football helmet in the air amid a crowd of teammates.
The car that struck Johnson was identified as a dark-colored Dodge Charger with damage to the driver’s side front bumper, Valdosta Police said.
The car was found and impounded on Monday, the department announced.
The Valdosta Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Johnson is respected by his teammates and coaches. Valdosta Wildcat Football /Instagram
Johnson will be honored at a memorial service at Perimeter Road Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, his obituary said.
Johnson’s death comes just one day before Brandon Smith, who played football for Manchester High School, died suddenly on Sunday, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
Smith’s team played in the Georgia high school football tournament on Monday night, the outlet added.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
