An 18-year-old Eagle Scout and a 67-year-old man have died following a head-on collision on a rural road in Georgia.
On Monday morning, Aug. 4, just after 8 a.m. local time, Luke Burgess was driving his Ford Mustang along Fate Conn Road in Cherokee County when a BMW SUV, driven by Frank Coe, crossed the center line and struck his vehicle head-on, according to WSB, WAGA, and the Cherokee Tribune.
Deputies arriving at the scene pronounced Burgess dead. Coe was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died, the outlets reported.
Authorities say the crash remains under investigation.
“This is a heartbreaking and tragic accident,” Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds told WAGA. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those involved.”
Burgess, a recent graduate of Cherokee High School, had been working for a grading company and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout just two months ago, WSB reported.
“Like many boys his age, Luke was full of energy, a little rambunctious, and yes — a bit of a procrastinator,” said Joe Thomas, Committee Chair of Troop 125. “Luke had a warm, hardworking spirit and an infectious smile. His passing is a devastating loss, and yet, the impact he made in his short life is undeniable. He touched the lives of so many.”
An organizer of a GoFundMe created to help Burgess’ mother with funeral expenses wrote that “Luke was loved deeply by many” and “left a lasting impact on those who knew him.”
The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office declined to comment when reached by PEOPLE, and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond.
