UNION — Danny Arnett II's friends and teachers at Ryle High School said he was mature beyond his 16 years and sophomore status.

        That makes the Union teen's death in a traffic accident Monday off Frontage Road especially hard to take.

        And it made Tuesday one of the worst in Ryle Principal Randall Cooper's 28 years in education. For the second time in less than a year, he lost a student in a traffic accident.

Chancina Walls, 15 and Gary Becknell, 17, both of Union, visit a roadside memorial Tuesday to their friend Danny Arnett II, 16, who was killed in a car wreck Monday. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        “I've gone through too many of these,” Mr. Cooper said. “It's never easy.”

        Especially at Ryle.

        Football and baseball player Travis Alig died Thanksgiving Day in an accident at U.S. 42 and Frogtown Road.

        Two other Ryle sophomores injured in Monday's accident are recovering. Shane Phillips, 15, of Union, was released from St. Luke Hospital West in Florence, and Jared Shadel, 15, of Union, is in good condition at University Hospital.

        Love of sports united Mr. Alig and Danny Arnett. Danny's last hours were spent on sports.

        Ryle head football coach Kyle Hockman said Danny, a defensive back, was there for the team picture at about 1 p.m. Monday. About two hours later, Danny was pronounced dead, after police said the car he was driving went out of control while northbound on Frontage Road.

        They said the car flipped several times, ejecting all the occupants, none of whom was wearing seat belts.

        Mr. Hockman knew of Danny's maturity more than most. He knew Danny's mother died suddenly last winter.

        “He was immersing himself in the football atmosphere to deal with the loss of his mother,” Mr. Hockman said. “He would have been a heavy contributor in our varsity program.”

        It was not known Tuesday whether a memorial fund would be established in Danny's name or a memorial service would be held at school.

        Ryle assistant principal Fred Bernier said other parents called the school to offer assistance. He struggled to find words, but he thought the school would recover.

        “The sad part of it is, we don't know what to say, either,” Mr. Bernier said. “Union's a pretty tight community.”

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