LAKE WACCAMAW, N.C. (WECT) – The community of Lake Waccamaw is mourning the loss of a young life after a tragic car crash early Wednesday morning claimed the life of a local high school student.
According to the Lake Waccamaw Town Clerk, 17-year-old Gary Landyn Jacobs was killed in a single-vehicle wreck on Canal Cove Road around 4 a.m. on August 14. Authorities say Jacobs was driving when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Emergency responders arrived quickly and provided medical care at the scene, but sadly, Jacobs succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after.
Jacobs was a senior at East Columbus High School, where he was well-known not only for his academic commitment but also as a dedicated member of the school’s baseball team. His death has sent waves of grief through the student body, the athletic community, and among faculty and staff who knew him personally.
“Gary was a bright young man with a promising future,” said a representative from the school. “He had a strong work ethic, a love for sports, and a heart that was kind to everyone he met. His absence will be deeply felt throughout the school and the community.”
Tributes began pouring in across social media as friends, classmates, and teammates remembered him as a loyal friend, a talented athlete, and someone who could always be counted on to lift others up.
Counselors have been made available at East Columbus High School to support grieving students and staff as they cope with the tragic loss. The school district also released a statement extending thoughts and prayers to the Jacobs family.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time. It remains unclear what caused the vehicle to leave the road.
The Lake Waccamaw community has already begun organizing memorial efforts, and funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
- As the town reels from the sudden loss, many are focusing on honoring Gary’s memory by remembering his positive spirit and the impact he had on those around him — both on and off the baseball field.
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