Advertisement Winchester High School football captain killed in early-morning crash Patrick Gill killed when car crashes into tree Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Winchester High School football captain was killed in an early-morning crash Saturday, officials said. Images: Crash kills high school football captainEmergency officials said they responded to Manomet Road near High Street around 7 a.m. after getting reports of a serious crash.The driver of the vehicle, who was identified as 17-year-old Patrick Gill, was taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, where he was pronounced dead.Police said the initial investigation showed Gill was traveling east on Manomet Road when the vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree."Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family on this difficult day. Right now, we are working with our partners in state law enforcement to determine what exactly happened," Police Chief Kenneth C. Albertelli said.Witness Lamont Harris didn't see the crash, but said he saw the vehicle just before and right after the impact."As I turned, out of my peripheral, as the same time, I heard, 'Bang.'" he said. "I saw the car just really, really badly mangled."Harris said he didn't think the car was speeding."Seeing the car drive by me," he said. "It looked like it was going a normal speed.Winchester Superintendent William H. McAlduff Jr. said Gill's death was a great loss to his family and the entire Winchester community."The days, weeks and months ahead will be difficult ones as we prepare to deal with this untimely loss," he said in a statement. "This outstanding community will support each other as best that we can as we come to terms with this tragic loss."McAlduff said grief counselors were made available in the Winchester High School cafeteria until 4 p.m. Saturday and they will be available again from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.Gill's friend Kevin Diarbakerly said Gill was always laughing and smiling."He was the type of kid who brought the community together," he said. "Everybody he knew, he impacted in his own way."Diarbakerly said Gill always knew haw to cheer people up and get people into a good mood."You didn't have to know him," he said. "Give him two seconds and you'd feel like you knew him your whole life. He was just one of those kids."A prayer service has also been scheduled for 7 p.m. at St. Mary's Church. The church will also remain open until 11 p.m.