A Grand Forks Central High School student died Wednesday night after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident earlier that afternoon, just after students had left school for the day.
McCain Endres, 16, was taken by ambulance to Altru Hospital around 3:45 p.m. after colliding with a black four-door sedan only one block away from the school, at the intersection of North Sixth Street and Second Avenue North.
"We're getting a plan together for tomorrow for the students," said Central High School principal Buck Kasowski. "We will have counselors on hand for students.
"It's important for the kids to be with their friends. We hope everybody can come together tomorrow and for McCain."
According to Grand Forks Police, Endres was traveling on Second Avenue when he struck the car, which pulled into intersection from his left.
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Dozens of classmates leaving school witnessed the crash.
"I saw McCain go by, so I was watching him," said Central sophomore Triston Common. "He tried to turn his handlebars but he hit right on the side of the car, and his helmet went flying off and landed down the street."
Eyewitnesses said the helmet flew in the air and hit a lamppost on the corner of the intersection, with the car stopping just short of the lamppost.
"I ran up and asked him if he was OK, and he said 'call 911,'" Common said. "I've known him for a couple years. I can't stop shaking."
The name of the driver, a 17-year-old female who was identified by bystanders as a Central student, was not released by Grand Forks Police Department, which responded to the accident.
The driver of the car was uninjured, according to the report.
Classmates of Endres were using Twitter to call for students at both Central and Red River high schools to wear blue to school Thursday in his honor.
Call Jeffries at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1105; or send email to rjeffries@gfherald.com .
