00/06/19
Teen killed in car accident
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By Bill Cresenzo
Times-News
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For the second time in less than a month, members of the Western Alamance High School football team are dealing with the death of one of their comrades.
Christopher Michael Ollis, 16, a rising senior at the high school and an all-conference linebacker, was killed in a wreck Saturday in Moore County while traveling home from a vacation at Myrtle Beach.
“He was a superior young man,” said Hal Capps, head coach of the Western Alamance High School football team and the school’s athletics director. “He was very cordial, very positive, very well mannered, well respected and well liked.”
Last month, David Light, a 20-year-old assistant coach of the Western Alamance football team, died while cleaning up after the violent storm that caused widespread damage to the county May 25.
“I struggle with it,” Capps said. “I feel for the families, and I feel sorry for myself sometimes, to be honest. I have good moments — I’ll be fine for 30 or 40 minutes and then I’ll break down for 10 or 15.”
Ollis, who was also a member of the school’s baseball and track teams, was in the front seat of a 1996 Ford driven by Sara Rae Aldridge, 18, of Liberty, said Trooper W.R. Ellington of the Highway Patrol.
The pair, along with two other passengers, was traveling on U.S. 1 near Vass in Moore County when Aldridge lost control of the vehicle at about 4 p.m. Saturday, Ellington said.
It ran off the right side of the road, swerved back toward the northbound lane, hit a median curb and overturned several times, Ellington said.
Ollis, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene, the trooper said.
Aldridge and the other passengers, Amanda Crisco, 16, of Burlington and Brittany Cox, 17, of Liberty, were treated at a local hospital and released, Ellington said. Capps said that his team is having trouble dealing with the deaths of Ollis and Light.
“These young kids are seeing death more or less for the first time,” Capps said. “It’s hard to be 17 years old and see a friend of yours who is 16 die. Young people think they’re invincible anyway, and being in athletics, they’re even more sure of themselves, and they feel they can beat any odds. And now they see that they can’t. They’re human.”
Christopher Michael Ollis died Saturday, June 17, 2000 in a car accident in Southern Pines coming home from the beach. He was a rising senior at Western Alamance High School. He was a member of the track, football, and baseball teams. He was an All Conference Linebacker for two years and was an honorable mention on the All Region team. He was also a member of the 300 club. I had worked out with Michael a whole lot. For a guy that weighed around 165, he was strong!! I think it was amazing that he could bench over 300 for his size. For those of you that didn't know him or seen him play football, you should have because he was one tuff warrior!!!
I just want to tell you Michael that you are one of the best friends I have ever had. The night I found out you were gone my heart just dropped. I am going to miss all the good times we had and I will always remember the things that we have done. You are in a better place and with god now. You were a great influence to everyone that knew you. You will be missed by so many. Rest on my friend. No more sickness and no more pain. The angels in heaven have welcomed you. Created by: Adam Rudd.............................
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