Passenger in crash that killed classmate making 'noticeable progress' in hospital

One Orleans County teenager remains hospitalized Wednesday, one day after a rollover crash killed an Albion High School senior set to graduate next week.

Brennan Moody, 17, Kent, was killed and three classmates were injured early Tuesday morning in a rollover crash in Orleans County, according to New York State Police.

Moody, a popular, friendly student who was active in Albion High School's music and drama departments, was one of four young men in a sedan that went off the east shoulder of Eagle Harbor Road in Albion around 12:15 a.m., troopers said. The car went into a ditch before becoming airborne and striking a utility pole with the car's roof. Moody died at the scene.

According to Albion Central School District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell, "we have received positive news" regarding the injured 17-year-old boy, who sat in the backseat of the car with Moody. (Troopers on Wednesday said the teen suffered "very serious" injuries including severe trauma to his head and neck and internal injuries.)

"Though he remains in the hospital, his condition has improved," Bonnewell said. "He is talking and reportedly moving within the confines of his bed. He has several surgeries and an involved recovery ahead of him but is making noticeable progress." 

The teen, whose name was not released by police, remains hospitalized at the Erie County Medical Center and is in "critical but stable" condition, said Trooper James O'Callaghan.

O'Callaghan said troopers continue to investigate the fatal crash and determined that "excessive speed" was the main factor in the crash. He could not say how fast the car was traveling when the crash occurred.

"It was dry out that night and the crash was only a few miles from where they started," he said. The teens, however, all appeared to be wearing seat belts when the crash occurred.

The other two teens in the car — the 18-year-old driver and a 17-year-old front seat passenger — suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, treated and released. Troopers did not identify either teen.

Grief counselors are on hand at Albion High School. Funeral services for Moody have not yet been set.

"The love shared by so many has reminded us how fortunate we all are to have one another," Bonnewell said.

Bonnewell said district faculty will work with Albion High School seniors "to determine the best way to handle Brennan's loss at the graduation ceremony."

Those talks have not yet occurred, he said.

"Brennan was a kid with a heart of gold," Bonnewell said, noting that he has attended numerous music department trips with the teen since Moody's middle school years. "If you needed someone to attend to something, you didn't hesitate to ask him. Whether it was a musical need or a more mundane task, he'd do whatever he could for anyone."

According to the district website, Moody was active in the district's music program, as a member of the school chorus, marching band and jazz ensembles and flourished in stage in school drama productions, including as a cast member in Albion High's spring musical Into the Woods.

The crash occurred just hours after the final day of classes for high school students. Albion High School's class of 2019 is set to graduate June 28 in the high school gym. The district has about 1,850 students overall, with 155 in the senior class.

No charges have been filed in connection with the crash, O'Callaghan said.

VFREILE@Gannett.com