Students at Clarkston High School are mourning the loss of a peer.
Seventeen-year-old Kelly Ray Firby was a senior, on the football, power lifting and track and field teams. He had career plans to enter into the heating and air conditioning field after graduation.
“He was certainly a well-liked student,” Judy Medlin said. Medlin is the director of guidance at CHS and was Kelly’s counselor. “He had a lot of friends here. The students are coping with it and, of course, feel a great loss.”
Firby was killed in a head-on automobile accident on Friday, Nov. 28 on I-75 near Clintonville Road.
According to Michigan State Police, Firby, of Pontiac, was travelling southbound on the Interstate, at 11:40 p.m., his 1992 Oldsmobile crossed the center median, continued in the northbound lanes and struck a 2004 Buick driven by Kenneth George Brown, 43, of Fenton.
The 17-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of injuries from the crash. Brown sustained serious injuries and was transported to Genesys Health Park in Grand Blanc for treatment.
Police say both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Troopers do not believe alcohol was a factor, but do not rule out fatigue.
The crash closed northbound I-75 at Baldwin until 4:30 a.m. for investigation. Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies and members of the Independence Township Fire Department assisted the state police with the freeway closure.
The school has been flying the American flag at half mast and held a moment of silence in Kelly’s honor. Support groups have been available for students who need them.
“He was a very nice student,” Medlin said.
Firby is the son of Michele (William) England and Robin (Kristi) Firby; grandson of Janice Gray, Billie Firby and Maria and Frank England; stepbrother of Raven Firby; boyfriend of Kristen Bradish; best friend of Adam Cunningham; nephew of Eric and Kathy Gray, Brian (Heather) Gray, Terry (Elizabeth) Firby, Rhonda (Grant) Bourgeouis and Eleanor Goolsby.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the Lewis E. Wint & Son TRUST 100 Funeral Home in Clarkston.
Any donations to the family will be used toward a grave marker in Kelly’s memory. Visit www.legacy.com.