Family and Friends Remember 11-Year-Old Boy Killed in Gastonia Car Crash

GASTONIA, NC – Emotions ran high for more than a hundred people who gathered to remember an 11-year-old boy who died in a car crash Wednesday.

“He was a good kid. Really good kid. And he didn’t deserve this at all,” says friend Kaylea Gries.

Maquel McMullen died after the car he was riding in crashed into a pole. Friends are still trying to understand why.

“I can’t believe that he’s gone. And I just really, really miss him,” says friend Gracey Silver.

Police say the driver of the car, 24-year-old Jason Pruitt was speeding down Pinkhook Loop Road when he hit a telephone pole and flipped his Jeep Cherokee. He now faces several charges including felony involuntary manslaughter.

Two teens were also hurt in the crash.

Maquel’s mother was too upset to go on camera, but told WCCB she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

Cheyenne Burnett showed held Maquel’s roller skates that she and others signed in memory of him.

Many at the vigil met Maquel for the first time at Kate’s Skating Rink in Gastonia. “He was always there every Saturday. Even through the week sometimes, you could catch him there he would always be there,” explains friend Coleman Montgomery.

Joshua Alexander worked at the rink. He says Maquel’s familar face will be missed.

“I think everybody’s gonna really (be) looking there, like when they go back to skating. They’re gonne see the curly-haired kid is not there anymore and (wish) that he was there,” Alexander says.

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