16-year-old West Jessamine High School ‘rising senior’ dies in traffic accident

Counselors, coaches and administrators are gathering at West Jessamine High School Sunday to help students deal with the death of a student and football player who died in a Saturday traffic accident, school officials said.

“With heavy hearts, we share that rising senior Jared Suarez was killed in a car accident earlier this afternoon,” school officials said in a Facebook post Saturday.

West Jessamine Head Football Coach Scott Marsh told the Herald-Leader that Jared, who would have been a three-year starter this fall, ”was a beautiful soul.”

“Never had a bad day in his life,” said Marsh. “Young kids looked up to him. Older kids loved him. He kind of brightened up a room when he walked into it.”

“Jared was a kind and well-liked student, a member of both the cheer and football squads. He will be greatly missed. Counselors, coaches, administrators, and support staff will be available at West Jessamine High School from 7-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 30th. Please come if we can help you navigate this difficult time,” school officials said in the Facebook post.

“I’ve been doing this 29 years now and he was one of the special ones,” said Marsh. Jared was among the football players who were also on the cheer team during basketball season and during competition, Marsh said.

“It speaks for his selflessness and his love for celebrating school, community, peers,” said Marsh.

Football booster club officials said in a post: “Please lift up the family of Senior Jared Suarez in your prayers. We are deeply saddened that Jared lost his life in a wreck this afternoon. Jared was a beloved teammate, always quick with a smile and full of life on the football field as well on the cheer team.”

Jessamine County Coroner Michael Hughes said in a Sunday statement that Suarez, 16, died Saturday at Saint Joseph-Jessamine R.J Corman Ambulatory Care Center. The accident occurred at U.S. Highway 27 south at Keene Centre Drive.

Assistant Nicholasville Police Chief Matt Marshall said Jared was driving southbound on US 27 near Keene Centre Drive. He was in the left lane moving into the right lane when his back right bumper struck the front left bumper of another vehicle. Jared lost control of his vehicle, spun off the road and was ejected from his vehicle, Marshall said.

The accident caused a road closure that lasted 3 1/2 hours, said Marshall.