Local high school senior dies in ATV crash days before graduation
A local high school senior was killed in an ATV crash in Darke County Thursday night.
Darke County Deputies and crews with North Star Fire, Ansonia Rescue, and Careflight were dispatched to the 7100 block of Goubeaux Rd on reports of a crash around 11:24 p.m. Thursday.
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The preliminary investigation showed that a black ATV driven by 18-year-old Damian Bruns, of Versailles, was traveling in a field when it lost control and rolled several times.
Bruns, a senior at Fort Loramie High School, was flown to Miami Valley Hospital where he died from his injuries.
The news of his passing stunned the Fort Loramie community.
“It is a very tragic and sad loss to our entire community,” Fort Loramie Local Schools Superintendent Daniel Holland told News Center 7, noting that some students have reached out to teachers and coaches to talk about the sudden loss.
Holland said Bruns ran track for several years and was an All-Ohio Division VII football player this past fall. He described him as a young man that everyone wanted to be around.
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“Just a great kid. You know, never met someone who was a stranger,” Holland said. “Just a friendly, fun, energetic you man and it’s just a terrible loss.”
Holland confirmed that Bruns was set to graduate this Sunday, May 19. His post-graduation plans were to attend the University of Cincinnati.
As we reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the high school gymnasium is already set up for the Class of 2024 graduation. The stage is set for the 65 graduates to receive their diplomas.
The district has made the decision to go on with graduation on Sunday with plans to honor Bruns.
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Bruns’ passenger on the ATV, 18-year-old Carly Graves, of Bradford, was transported to Wayne ER with non-life-threatening injuries. Neither she nor Bruns were wearing safety belts or helmets at the time of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
