Classmates remember Matthew Carr, Belton teen who died in a crash

BELTON, Mo. - Matthew Carr, 17, was a senior at Belton High School. This year, he attended night school. His friends call him a jokester and all around fun guy to be around.

Tuesday morning, Carr’s short life ended in a car crash in his neighborhood. Police responded to a car crashed into a tree just after 4:30 a.m. Carr was dead inside that car.

One neighbor told KSHB the driver’s side was almost completely non-existent.

“The driver’s side was crushed in. The car looked like it got turned into a horseshoe from that point,” described Pete Wing. He instantly recognized the car wrapped around his neighbor’s tree. He told KSHB on Tuesday he feels for Carr’s family.

Students at Belton High School share that same sadness and shock.

“I thought they were just messing around but then I heard it was serious. It was all quiet and stuff,” said sophomore Brandon Thompson. He and Carr had been friends since the second grade.

“He was a funny, crazy person and no one should ever be forgotten,” said Thompson.

That’s exactly why students at Belton High School worked quickly to plan a candle light vigil Tuesday night. About 75 students showed up to share prayers and memories.

“It's really hard, honestly, to think that's how someone died. It's sad really to think someone could be taken away by that," said sophomore Mandi Peters.

Mandi and Brandon agreed that the student body will take away a great lesson from Carr’s death: to always wear seatbelts no matter what.

Extra counselors were on hand Tuesday for grieving students. This type of care was offered five and a half years ago when Kara Kopetsky vanished. Investigators are still looking for her. The student body is too young to remember Kara. However, the death of Carr will live with them for a very long time.