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Saratoga County resident Tyler Scocca, age 17, of Galway, died Sunday evening, June 25, following a crash in the town of Providence.
The teen was driving westbound on Hans Creek Road near Fayville Road when he lost control and went off the roadway at around 7:45 p.m., according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
- Earlier Report: 17-Year-Old Killed In Providence Crash Was Varsity Wrestler Set To Begin Senior Year
Scocca, who was the only person in the vehicle, suffered fatal injuries when the car rolled and struck a tree, deputies said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Unsafe speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Scocca was set to begin his senior year at Galway High School, where he was a member of the varsity wrestling team, Galway Central Schools Superintendent Brita Donovan said in a statement to parents.
“Tyler was a very funny young man who was a friend to all,” Donovan said. “His quick wit and sense of humor will be deeply missed in our hallways and lives.”
The teen was also a member of the Journeymen Wrestlers, an amateur club in the Capital Region. The organization posted its own tribute for Scocca on its Facebook page.
“Our entire wrestling community mourns his loss. Tyler was extremely committed and dedicated to making his senior year remarkable,” reads the post. “He was a pillar of consistency at the club.”
In the days since her son’s death, Jennifer Phoenix has received an “overwhelming” amount of support from his friends who have shown up at her home, she said on Facebook.
Friends have also placed a wooden cross and planted flowers at the crash site.
“I have no doubt he has the most thoughtful, loving friends anyone could possibly imagine,” Phoenix wrote. “You amazing kids are filling my heart in the darkest days.”
That support has also extended online, where friends and strangers have contributed thousands of dollars to a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with funeral expenses.
“Tyler was an amazing young man who is loved by so many,” the campaign’s creator, Adam Delles, wrote. “His positive influence and fantastic sense of humor enriched the lives of everyone around him.”
As of Thursday, June 29, the fundraiser had collected more than $14,000. Those who wish to donate can do so here.
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