Jackson Keate, a varsity member of the Lone Peak High School cross country team in 2020, died on Friday following a three-car crash on US Highway 189 in Charleston, Utah, those within the Lone Peak High School program confirmed recently.
The Utah Highway Patrol told KSL.com that just after 1:30 p.m., a 17-year-old driving a Honda Civic "drifted off the right side of a narrow section of the highway," and then over corrected, causing his vehicle to merge into oncoming traffic.
Keate, a high school junior and a promising runner who was preparing for his first outdoor track and field season, died at the scene, KSL.com reported. Keate ran his last cross country race at the Border Wars Qualifier, where he posted a career best 5K time of 17:54.16.
Keate's father, Scott, wrote on Facebook:
"I'm feeling overwhelmed by the large outpouring of love I and my family have been receiving since so many of you learned of Jackson's passing. Our family is starting 2021 off with heavy hearts.I wish times were different and that I could look directly into more of your eyes and receive your hugs. I am profoundly grateful for all of you who loved my boy and made his experience so full of joy.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Keate family and the Lone Peak High School track and field communitiy on the loss.
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MileSplit Utah editor Josh Ornelas and MileSplit USA's Cory Mull contributed to this report
