JACKSONVILLE Fla. – A 17-year-old decorated member of the Navy Junior ROTC program at Nease High School student was killed Wednesday evening when he was struck by a car while riding a bicycle on Palm Valley Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Christian Meier was riding east on the sidewalk along Palm Valley Road near the Intracoastal Waterway bridge about 5:30 p.m.
He followed the sidewalk as it crossed the road, riding into the path of David Corring's Toyota Corolla, which had just crossed the bridge.
Christian was taken to Baptist Beaches in critical condition and later died from his injuries.
According to the FHP report, charges are pending.
Christian's ROTC instructor said the teen's classmates are devastated by the loss.
Capt. Scott LaRochelle, senior Naval science instructor for the Nease Navy JROTC, said that the soon to be senior had dreams of becoming a Navy pilot after he graduated. He said that it will take everyone in the program to fill the void left by the tragedy.
"He was wholesome. He was true. He was honest. The thing you wish teenagers all across the country were today," LaRochelle said. "He was specifically selected to attend the prestigious NJROTC Leadership Academy. He demonstrated outstanding community service to the school."
LaRochelle said Christian won a district Character Counts award, was one of the top seven leaders in the program, was a member of the varsity drill team, and was on their nationally ranked Color Guard. He hoped to earn a college ROTC scholarship.
"His resume for that, which is strong academics, incredible athletics, great community service, strong leadership -- he met all of those requirements," LaRochelle said. "In my mind, he would have been an incredible candidate for an ROTC scholarship and a future Naval officer."
Christian leaves behind two brothers and three sisters, along with his mother and father.
A family friend said Christian was headed home from his summer job at the time of the crash.
LaRochelle said the JROTC office received calls and messages from former students shocked by the loss.
"Our JROTC program is (as much) like a family as anything else out there," LaRochelle said. "Every kid in the program, all the parents, all the families are all grieving for the Meiers at this time."
LaRochelle said the school district is already coordinating grief counselors for any students who might need them.
According to records, there had been 1,731 total crashes in St Johns County in 2016, through Wednesday. Christian's crash was the 40th involving a bicycle and the second bicycle-related fatality.
There have also been four pedestrian fatalities in the county this year.