Freshman College Wrestler, 18, Dies After His Car Veers Off Roadway and Strikes Tree

A college wrestler has died after a car crash in Oklahoma.

Jayden McCain, a member of the Murray State College Wrestling Team, passed away in the crash on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 16, according to a statement shared on Facebook by school officials.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said McCain’s car went off the road and hit a tree while he was driving on US-377 near Jagger Road in Marshall County, KXII reported.

Authorities confirmed McCain was wearing a seatbelt, KOCO-TV reported. He was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

McCain is listed as a freshman from Madill, Oklahoma, on the website for the college’s men’s wrestling team. He also graduated from Madill High School.

“This is a heartbreaking day for Aggie Nation as we mourn the loss of one of our own,” Murray State College said in its statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the wrestling team and all who were a part of his life.”

A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $8,000 to support McCain’s family after his sudden death.

“Jayden was more than an athlete,” wrote Hannah Richroath, who organized the fundraiser. “He was a son, a brother, a friend, and a bright light to everyone who knew him. His energy, kindness, and dedication touched countless lives both on and off the mat.”

Donations will go toward covering McCain’s funeral and memorial costs, according to Richroath.

“No family should have to carry this financial burden while grieving the loss of their child,” she said. “Together, we can honor Jayden’s memory and show his family how deeply he was loved.”