BARNSTABLE, MA- TEEN KILLED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT (08-15-09)

Get the latest Flash player

satellitenewsservice
August 17, 2009

WEST BARNSTABLE — A local teenager's dreams of football camp and art school ended yesterday in a Route 6 crash.

Christopher Leonard, 17, of South Dennis was killed instantly when the Jeep Wrangler driven by his girlfriend, Savannah Szwarc, 19, of Sandwich, rolled over in the westbound lane between Exit 6 and Exit 5 at 12:13 p.m., according to Leonard's family and the state police.

The state police would not comment on the cause of the accident. But Leonard's stepmother said Szwarc had just pulled onto the highway, then had to swerve when cars ahead of her suddenly slowed down. She lost control and the vehicle flipped.

Szwarc was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with minor injuries, according to state police.

"I know (Savannah) is devastated and that she blames herself," Debbie Shea, Leonard's stepmother, said in an emotional interview with the Times at the family's South Dennis home. "But it was an accident. It's not her fault."

At least half of the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School football team rushed to Cape Cod Hospital yesterday afternoon as word of the tragedy spread, Shea said.

Leonard was passionate about football and his teammates. Besides football, he was on the high school baseball team and loved to snowboard, said his father, Jim Leonard.

"He just loved sports," Shea said. "His buddies on the football team were his second family."

Leonard was excited about football camp starting in two weeks and about being a high school senior.

From a young age, he loved to draw. Shea pulled out his most recent Mother's Day card to her. The card displayed his affection for her and his talent.

He hoped to become a freelance artist one day.

"He planned to go to college for art," his father said.

In the meantime, he lived every day to the fullest, Shea said.

Yesterday, Leonard and Szwarc, who had dated for several years, were heading to Sandwich to see Szwarc's mother when the crash occurred, Shea said.

Friends were traveling behind them. They saw the crash and called his parents within minutes.

Leonard was trapped underneath the Jeep. His friends tried in vain to lift the vehicle, Shea said.

"The state trooper said he died instantly," his stepmother said.

The contents of the Jeep, including notebooks and juice bottles, were spilled onto the grass on the highway shoulder. As investigators worked at the scene, the vehicle was mostly covered with tarps.

The crash slowed traffic to a crawl from before Exit 6, reducing the roadway to one lane for several hours as state police and the West Barnstable Fire Department responded to the crash.

capecodonline.com

Category: News & Politics

More From: satellitenewsservice

Play All Stop Autoplaying | Play Next

QuickList(0)

Clear | Save

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

This video has no Responses. Be the first to Post a Video Response.

Text Comments (10) Options

OceaneSzwarc (5 days ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

I never got to say thank you to everyone who has helped me and my family get through this. My big sister savannah and I thank you

OceaneSzwarc (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

to the first comment- that is pretty ignorant, this accident had nothing to do with the drivers age..the article failed to say that the drivers breaks had not been working correctly and that the couple was on their way to the girls mother's house and then to the mechanics to get them repaired. KNOW the facts before you speak

iloveirie12 (1 month ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

chris you wer my best friends brother much love missed by all...RIP

val1309 (2 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

We miss you Chris and think of you every single day.

jmorto21 (2 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

RIP Toph a true ledgend.

Skater4Life8o5 (2 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

RIP toph.
seasons for you

PrettyBrownEyes87 (3 months ago) Show Hide

-1

Marked as spam

My boyfriend is one of the firefighters who helped at the scene. He's the one in the blue shirt, hands on his waist. He told me about that call, and what a sad day that was. I thought about them all day. I feel so sorry for them.

PrettyBrownEyes87 (3 months ago)

Comment removed by author

ryeman4233 (3 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

i know the girl

kevykev38 (3 months ago) Show Hide

-1

Marked as spam

Should really think about changing the age of when you should start driving.

Showing 10 of 10 comments

Show More Comments

View All 10 comments

Would you like to comment?

Join YouTube for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

YouTube	Programs	Help	Policy	Discover
Contact Us	Advertising	Get Help	Privacy Policy	YouTube on Your Phone
YouTube Store	Developers	YouTube Handbook	Terms of Service	YouTube on Your Site
Press Room	Partnerships	Community Help Forums	Copyright Notices	YouTube on Your TV
Business Blog	Content Management	Safety Center	Community Guidelines	YouTube RSS Feeds
YouTube Blog		Creator's Corner		TestTube

Add YouTube to your Google homepage

Current Location: Worldwide Show locations

BARNSTABLE, MA- TEEN KILLED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT (08-15-09)

More From: satellitenewsservice

QuickList(0)

Related Videos

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

Text Comments (10) Options

Would you like to comment?