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Middleburg High School student dies in red-light crash

MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — Students at Middleburg High School wore blue Monday as they remember Jacob Leavitt.

Leavitt died this weekend in a car crash on the west side of Jacksonville, after Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the car he was in ran through a red light.

His friends say his brother was the driver, who is in serious condition.

Clay County school spokesman Gavin Rollins says the news hit the community hard.

“This impacts the school and the community in a great way when you lose someone,” said Rollins.

Rollins says they brought in counselors to Middleburg High School.

“It's hard, because everyone's upset and emotiona, because he was close with everyone,” said student Courtney Grant.

“He loved everybody, and it was easy to love him back,” said Adrian Tony.

Tony says they played football together for two years.

He said he spoke with Leavitt the day before the crash and said what he told him was comforting.

“I just talked to Jacob and I said, ‘Why aren't you playing football this year’? And he said, ‘Reverend, I had to make a choice, and it was church or football. Rev, I think I'm going to stick with God this time,” Tony said.