A teen from Whittier Christian High School who was placed into an induced coma following a serious car accident over the weekend died early on Thanksgiving morning, the school’s Facebook page announced.
Ethan Hawks, a junior football player at the school, was traveling Nov. 19 with his mother on the 57 Freeway when a piece of metal came crashing through the windshield and struck him on his face and neck, a GoFundMe page set up following the crash stated.
Hawks’ carotid artery was severed in the accident and he also suffered extensive damage to his jaw and cheekbone, according to the post.
His mother reached over to try to stop the bleeding and immediately drove Hawks to a nearby hospital, where he was placed into an induced coma, the GoFundMe page read.
The High School announced Hawks’ death on their Facebook page Thursday.
“With heavy hearts we share with you that beloved Herald Ethan Hawks is now in heaven,” the post read.
Sergio Gradilla, the head coach of the school’s football team, previously said Hawks was outgoing and enjoyed making his teammates laugh, the Orange County Register reported.
“He is always cracking jokes,” Gradilla told the newspaper after the crash. “He just wants to have great time with everybody.”
The school community is planning an unofficial gathering in honor of Hawks at Herald Hall on Friday at 3 p.m., according to the GoFundMe page.
Grief counselors and pastors will be on campus when students return to school begins on Monday, according to the Facebook post.