By Margie Wuebker
mwuebker@dailystandard.com A Minster teenager was killed Thursday night when his car struck a utility pole along Dawson Road in rural Shelby County.
Trent Fogt, 16, 291 S. Frankfort St., was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:30 p.m., according to Shelby County Sheriff's Office reports.
Fogt was driving northbound in the 9000 block of Dawson Road when he reportedly lost control of his white Pontiac Grand Am. The car traveled off the east side of the road, at which time the driver overcorrected sending it off the other side of the road. The vehicle rolled and came to a stop after striking a utitlity pole.
The Fort Loramie Rescue Squad and the Fort Loramie Fire Department responded to the scene southeast of Fort Loramie. A crew from Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. of Piqua also responded to turn off power to downed lines before the heavily damaged car could be righted.
The Minster High School sophomore and lone occupant was pronounced dead by Shelby County Coroner Dr. Fred Haussman. It is believed Fogt was returning to Minster after visiting a friend. Authorities believe speed and driver inexperience were contributing factors in the crash. Reports indicate Fogt was using his seat belt at the time.
"Trent was a popular young man," high school principal Carl Brown told The Daily Standard. "Everybody liked him. The school is so quiet you could hear a pin drop."
Some students learned of the tragedy late last night; others as they arrived prior to the start of classes. No formal announcement was made because students informed others through word of mouth or via cell phone.
Bereavement committee members from St. Augustine Catholic Church in Minster were on hand to talk with students. Clergy, personnel from the Auglaize County Education Service Center and guidance counselors from neighboring school districts also came to the high school.
Fogt, the son of Tracy and Liz Fogt, was an active member of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter and its parliamentary procedure team. He and fellow teammates competed recently at a state competition, narrowly missing first- place honors and the right to advance to nationals by a slim three-tenths of a point.
He also worked part time at Haus der Eleganz in Minster.
"Trent was such a wonderful young man," adviser Anita Uetrecht said. "He had a wonderful dry sense of humor that he used to good advantage."
Arrangements are pending at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Brown said the school district will provide transportation to viewing and funeral services for the young man's classmates. |
