A Mississippi high school kicker slated to play Division I football and a local nurse passed away in a car wreck on Christmas Eve.
Luke Davis, a senior at Columbia High School, was traveling along Highway 11 in Moselle when the 17-year-old’s vehicle collided with another. Law enforcement responded to the scene and found two victims deceased, with the other being identified as 33-year-old Zebulon Lott.
Per a report from WDAM, Davis was leaving the home of his girlfriend, Roxana Grimaldo, and was on his way to Hattiesburg when the accident happened. When the local TV station spoke to Grimaldo, she said Davis’ parents were expecting to see both of them on Christmas morning.
“They expected us to come by and open presents at their house,” Grimaldo said. “His dad is devastated. He misses his son. That was his only boy.”
Grimaldo added that she was shocked by the news that Davis had died. However, her hope is he’s now at peace.
“I’m glad that he’s in a better place and he didn’t suffer while he was in the accident,” she said. “He was going through a lot in his life, and all he wanted was just peace.”
The Columbia School District issued a social media post after Davis’ death, offering prayers for the family and friends of the student-athlete. Davis was expecting to play at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, or LSU after a senior season in which he was one of the more efficient kickers in the state.
“It is with heavy hearts that we in the Wildcat community grieve the passing of Luke Davis,” the school district noted. “We pray for comfort and peace for his friends and family as we mourn this great loss in the Wildcat family.”
As for the second victim in the fatal crash, Lott was leaving a 12-hour shift as an ICU nurse when he passed away. His coworkers started a GoFundMe for the family, which is still accepting donations as of Thursday morning.
“On Christmas Eve night after a 12-hour shift in the ICU, Zeb was involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, Zeb passed away and left behind his wife and their three little boys,” the GoFundMe description reads. “Although nothing will bring him back, his ICU family would like to take up a love offering for his family. Please keep his family and his work family in your thoughts and prayers.”
