HANOVER, Va. — Funeral services were held Friday for the Lee Davis senior killed in a crash almost a week ago.
The private graveside service for 17-year-old Dylan Ballard was held at one this afternoon.
Shirts were printed in honor of Ballard, in blue and orange, and family asked that they be worn to the funeral. At the visitation on Thursday, friends and family signed Ballard’s white car.
Shirts honoring Dylan Ballard on sale at inkt in Mechanicsville. Family would like shirts worn at funeral. https://t.co/5pb3CqQFnn—
WTVR CBS 6 Richmond (@CBS6) April 29, 2016
Ballard and 22-year-old Elliot Hinton died in the Saturday crash, and four others were seriously hurt.
The truck they were riding in slammed into a tree on Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville.
Court documents show that all six had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana that night.
A passenger told police that everyone had been drinking and smoking marijuana at the pond where they had gone for a swim after the NASCAR races.
The vehicle was traveling 10 mph over the posted speed limit; 55 in a 45mph zone, according to the documents.
First responders at the scene of the fatal crash.
Police also detected a strong odor coming from the vehicle and there were a large amount of beer cans found inside.
Ballard’s grandfather, Jim Blackwell, said he wants something positive to come from the tragedy. He spoke to CBS 6 from the visitation, as hundreds gathered, many who left sentiments as they signed Ballard’s white car.
“God has given me the tools to stand up and try to help my family,” Blackwell said, from the visitation. “There has been so many prayers, over 700 emails I’ve got myself. The Lee Davis student body has just been fantastic.”
And Blackwell has a message for them.
“Try to take the keys away from somebody, if they’re driving intoxicated,” he said. “And the second part, is get out of the car and call somebody.”
Blackwell also said that Ballard’s mom wants kids to learn from this experience.
“There’s going to be a number passed out where these kids can call,” Blackwell explained. “And then, someone will come and pick them up.”
No charges have been filed at this point, but the accident remains under investigation.
The Ballard family has asked the public to not rush to judgment.
“Wherever there’s a story, people are looking to find what happened,” Blackwell said. “ And honestly, we don’t know what happened.”
