A Walton teen who died in a one-car motor-vehicle accident early Thursday morning was remembered as "a great kid" by friends and family.
Cody Endress, 18, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup south on state Route 10 in Walton at about 3:15 a.m. when the accident occurred, state police at Sidney said.
The vehicle crossed over the northbound lane, about a half mile north of South River Road, going off the east shoulder and striking a tree, troopers said.
Endress was extricated from the vehicle by the Walton Fire Department and pronounced dead at the scene by Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Ucci, troopers said.
The investigation is continuing, but preliminary results indicate he may have fallen asleep while driving, troopers said, and neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor.
Endress was about a mile from home, after dropping off a friend in Walton, when the accident occurred, troopers said.
His aunt, Cheryl Lynn Boyd, said that Endress was a three-sport athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball at Walton Central School, where he had graduated from Saturday.
In fall 2008, Endress was named to The Daily Star's football second team as a tight end. This spring, Endress was named to the Midstate Athletic Conference Division I baseball second team.
Endress was also a member of the undefeated 2007 football team that won the Class D state title.
Boyd said her nephew was planning on attending the State University College of Technology at Delhi, where he was to study construction trades.
Endress was "a great all-around kid" who was responsible and hard-working, she said.
"He was one of those kids that charmed people and made them laugh," Boyd said. "He was always looking out for other people," she said.
Through his involvement with sports and other school activities, "he was a friend to a lot of people," she said.
The amount of people who have been at the Endress home in response to the tragedy has been "a source of comfort to family," she said.
Walton Principal Krislynn Dengler said the funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday.
It will be held at the high school auditorium, at the request of the family, to make sure that there is enough room to accommodate the mourners, Dengler said.
"He was the kind of young man that lived life to the fullest," she said. "He had a positive outlook on life" and had "many meaningful friendships with lots of students."
He was an "honor grad," among the top 10 students in his class, Dengler said.
Counselors were available for students at the school on Thursday, she said, and will be available Monday and as long as needed.
Walton football coach Jim Hoover said Endress was "a great young man." He was always polite, Hoover said, and "you couldn't ask for a better person."
As a football player, "he was one of the hardest working on the team. He did anything you wanted him to do," said Hoover. "We are going to miss him."
