Police say they were asked to check on Fairfield teen before fatal crash

UPDATE @ 1:30 p.m.:

Police were asked to check on the welfare of a Fairfield teen Friday before he was killed in a fatal crash, according to the Fairfield Police Department.

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At about 1:47 p.m., police received a request to check on Luke Minerd’s welfare. He was not located at his home, and officers began checking city parks for Minerd’s car.

“An officer was checking Joyce Park when he saw a car matching the description of Minerd’s car. The officer approached the car on foot and attempted to make contact with the driver. The car took off at a high rate of speed and crashed shortly thereafter,” according to a statement released today by police.

A GoFundMe account has been established in Minerd’s name.

The account says the 17-year-old was “a smart, loving and kind young man.”

“As a family, we were obviously not prepared to host a funeral service for Luke, at just 17 years of age. The funds of this campaign will go towards the cost of towing/impound fees (if any), and the funeral cost and arrangements, which we are deciding on as a family,” a statement on the online fundraising page.

Minerd was a junior at Fairfield High School, according to the GoFundMe page.

EARLIER REPORT:

A Fairfield teen was killed Friday afternoon in a single-car crash on Joe Nuxhall Way, according to the Butler County Coroner’s office.

Luke Minerd, 17, died at the crash scene that happened about 2:06 p.m., according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Minerd died of multiple traumatic injuries, but his manner of death is listed as pending by the coroner’s office.

Emergency dispatchers received a call for a single-vehicle crash in the 200 block of Joe Nuxhall Way.

A white sedan hit a tree, according witnesses. Some of the gates to Joyce Park were closed Friday while investigators were at the scene.

Fairfield police have released no additional information about the fatal crash, only saying the investigation is ongoing.

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