Family and friends mourn the loss of East River High School star quarterback killed in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — East River High School is mourning the loss of its starting football quarterback.

Eighteen-year-old Nick Miner was killed when the driver of a Honda crashed into his truck as he was trying to tow a friend out of a ditch.

There is a growing memorial for the young man at the site of the crash on Dallas Boulevard in Orange County.

Read: Orange County high school student killed in crash

On Monday, those who knew and loved Miner stopped by the memorial to pay their respects.

“I love him a lot. I played two seasons with him,” said teammate Marquise Wilson.

Teammates told Channel 9 that Miner was a natural leader both on and off the field and said that is how they will remember the young man who wore number 8.

Read: Community holds vigil for Orange County high school student killed in crash

“It’s a brotherhood and Nick was like the leader of the brotherhood,” said teammate Cole Strawder.

“He went out doing what he was always doing. Helping people out and being a leader.”

Teammates said the three-year starting quarterback always knew how to inspire the team and put those he loved first.

“I mean I definitely looked up to him,” said teammate Walki Ambroise. “He was an amazing great guy. Iwish other people got the chance to see that.

Around 1 a.m. on Sunday, the Florida Highway Patrol said Miner was helping to tow a friend out of a roadside ditch on Dallas Boulevard just south of Oberly Drive when a woman driving a Honda sedan crashed into him.

FHP said they recovered a broken rope on the scene and preliminary evidence shows that rope broke and sent his vehicle into the roadway shortly before the crash.

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Teammates said that the impact Miner had on them isn’t going away.

“We lost our leader physically, but emotionally and mentally he will always be there with us,” said Strawder.

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