18-year-old dies in St. Augustine crash

Driver suffered only minor injuries when Porsche left SR 16, crashed

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – An 18-year-old died early Wednesday morning in St. Augustine after a car left State Road 16 and struck a pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said Harrison Wilker was a passenger in a Porsche Boxster when the car left the road near Master Drive about 1 a.m., went through a chain-link fence and metal sign and landed next to a wooden utility pole.

FHP reported that Wilker was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected in the crash. He died at Flagler Hospital.

The driver, Jesse Viva, 21, of St. Augustine, suffered minor injuries.

Troopers shut down the roads near St. Augustine High School and Sebastian Middle School during the investigation. All lanes were back open by 5:40 a.m.

St. Johns County school officials said Wilker attended St. Augustine High student in 2014, but moved to home schooling.

Wilker's father said Viva was his son's best friend. Rick Wilker said he was just helping his son pick out a college and is leaning on his faith to get through his loss.

“He cared about everybody," Rick Wilker said of his son. "He cared so much, and he was just a good kid. He didn’t get in trouble. He was just a good kid, and I was very proud of him.”

The teen had a passion for working on cars. 

"He bought and sold cars since he was 16 years old, I think he’s had seven or eight  (cars), so he was into performance cars," Rick Wilker said.

The father also wanted to share a strong message about people buckling up.

"Wear your seat belts. It's so simple," he said.

News4Jax has learned that Viva was arrested earlier this month after the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said he was pulled over for speeding and had marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the car. The arrest report noted he also had an improper license tag.

In April, Viva was charged with aggravated assault after his father claimed he pulled knife during over "recurring family issues." Those charges were later dropped.