Beloved Football Player Killed In Car Wreck

Around Citronelle High School you'll see tributes to Josh Creagh. Whether it's a black ribbon around an oak tree or one of the dozens of classmates wearing armbands with his number.

“He will be missed, I didn't know how many friends he really had,” says Josh’s mother Jacquelyn as she choked back tears. I talked to her today, 9/18/09, at the Creagh home in Mt. Vernon. Josh's mom gathers with family in a time of need. She says her son was a loving young man. In one of the pictures she showed me, he was grimacing, but that’s only because the family says he just didn’t like having his picture taken. Family members say beneath the gruff facial expression is a young man who always spread his joy to others. Jacquelyn Creagh says she'll miss her son's morning routine most of all.

“I go to his room at 5:15, he usually says momma give me 5 more, I give him 10 more, and then I tell him he has to get up because he has to catch the bus and he always kisses me bye have a great day mama I love you,” says Jacquelyn. She says Josh was riding home with a friend from a football dinner Thursday night along Highway 96 and called her just before leaving.

“He said I'll be home mama and I said alright bubba you come straight home,” says Jacquelyn as she remembers the last conversation she had with her son. Citronelle Police say the driver, high school senior Kendrick Refour lost control of the car as he was passing another vehicle. Josh was airlifted to USA Medical Center but later died from his injuries. At the high school it's a day of remembrance.

“You know students are somber today but they're binding together, they're coming along well and they're helping each other out,” says Citronelle High School Principal Alex Crane. Family and friends and just about everyone that knew Josh told me today that he was a special young man.

“He could come to your house three, six times a day but he never left that house without giving you a hug and kissing you and telling you that he loved you,” says Josh’s Aunt Vanessa Marks.
Tonight's football game against faith academy has been postponed until tomorrow because of the crash. The driver Kendrick Refour was treated and released from the hospital. He's recovering at home. Citronelle Police say it doesn't appear the young men were wearing seatbelts.