A recent Kennesaw Mountain High School graduate died Saturday night on a Cobb County road after investigators believe he lost control of the sports car he was driving and spun into a tree.
The 17-year-old from Powder Springs was identified as Alexander Phillip Guercia on a GoFundMe page that was created to help the family with medical, funeral and other expenses.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I ask for love, support and guidance for my best friend and her family as they have to lay their son/brother to rest,” the creator of the account wrote.
Guercia was a member of the Harrison High swim team during his freshman year and returned to the pool after transferring to Kennesaw Mountain for his senior year, according to his online obituary.
The teen was traveling north on Mack Dobbs Road near Kennesaw in a gray 2004 Nissan 350z around 11:30 p.m., Cobb police spokeswoman Officer Shenise Barner said in a news release.
As the boy drove north of Lark Haven Drive, he left his travel lane on a left-hand curve, Barner said. According to the initial investigation, police believe he abruptly turned the steering wheel and began a counter-clockwise spin. The Nissan left the road and hit a tree just off the eastern shoulder of Mack Dobbs Road, coming to rest in the woods, Barner said.
Guercia, who would have turned 18 on June 23, died from his injuries at the scene, according to Barner. Police did not say who called in the crash or how long the car was in the woods before emergency crews were able to respond.
Guercia “was a true friend, a doting son, a great brother and he was loved by many. He had a smile that lit up the room and a heart of gold,” the GoFundMe creator wrote.
The family will receive friends at Branches of Christ Church in Acworth from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday. The funeral will be held at the church Friday at 11 a.m., followed by the burial at Kennesaw City Cemetery.
The investigation remains open. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact investigators at 770-499-3987.
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