COCKEYSVILLE, Md. (WBFF) — Flowers and a prayer card now mark the curve on Poplar Hill Road in Cockeysville where an 18-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle crash late Friday, leaving a community grieving and three juveniles injured.
Baltimore County police said the crash happened just before 10 p.m. Friday night on Poplar Hill Road near Merrymans Mill Road. Investigators identified the person who died as 18-year-old Ryan Duvall.
Police said a preliminary investigation shows the vehicle was traveling southbound on Poplar Hill Road when it left the road and struck a tree. Duvall was pronounced dead at the scene.
ALSO READ | 18-year-old killed, three juveniles injured after vehicle strikes tree in Cockeysville
At the crash site Monday, 15-year-old Dublin Horst left a prayer card at the tree. Horst said he knows one of the boys who was in the car but did not identify him by name. He said he came to see the scene himself and hopes his friend survives.
“It’s a tragedy. I mean, it’s very upsetting,” Horst said.
“I think, for me, I think that it’s helpful and it gives me some clarity on what happened,” he said. “It’s just deeply upsetting, yeah. It’s a hard thing to face.”
Duvall is being remembered as a talented martial artist and dedicated student. He studied Korean martial arts at Quest Martial Arts, where owner Jim Bannister said he learned about the death through an email just hours after the crash.
“We were shell shocked and surprised,” Bannister said.
Bannister said Duvall had trained at Quest Martial Arts since he was 10 years old.
“Well, I mean, you know, when we talk about outstanding martial artists, a lot of times people are thinking about the physical things, and he was very gifted physically. I mean he grew up with us,” Bannister said.
“Obviously, he had the skills, he was a part of our demo team, so in terms of that side, yes. But what really struck me about Ryan was his character and him, he embodied so many of the virtues that we attempt to instill in our students here,” he said.
“He was focused, he was hardworking. He was an extremely kind person,” added Bannister.
Duvall was also a first-year student at Harford Community College and graduated high school last year. Students at North Harford High School reacted to the news Monday.
“(I care about his loss) because I feel like losing a life at 18 is something like no one should go through. Like the parents, I’m sure they’ve gone through a lot,” student Joseph Harris said.
“Sad…He was very young, he had his whole life ahead of him. Very disappointed to hear that he got killed in a car accident,” student Jordan Lucas said.
Follow FOX45 reporter Keith Daniels on X and Facebook. Send tips to Kdaniels@sbgtv.com.
Local Story
