A 17-year-old Fulton boy has died from injuries he suffered in an accident last weekend near Millersburg.
Xander Noel - who was a junior at Fulton High School - was driving a 2004 Saturn L300 eastbound on Route WW at County Road 259 at 2:20 p.m. last Saturday when the accident occurred, according to a crash report from the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Noel's vehicle crossed the center line and sideswiped a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, which was driven by James P. Craig, 28, of Eldon, and was traveling westbound.
Noel's vehicle came to rest off the east side of the highway, and he was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia in serious condition. He was wearing a seat belt.
Craig was not injured in the accident.
Missouri Highway Patrol Cpl. Kyle Green confirmed Noel - who was an organ donor - had been declared brain dead.
Noel ran cross country and played tennis at FHS.
"He was a cornerstone of our team, always encouraging and inspiring. Always putting forth his best effort to always do the right thing. His passion for our team radiated through him and was felt by everyone," the FHS cross country team posted on its Facebook page in memory of Noel.
A GoFundMe page established in Noel's memory to help pay for hospital costs had raised $6,800 as of Thursday morning.
A celebration of life service for Noel is scheduled today at Veterans Park Amphitheater in Fulton. The gathering starts at 4 p.m. and services will follow at 6 p.m.
Noel will be buried Saturday in Kansas City.