DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — A community is in mourning after a popular Douglas County teen died in a head-on collision.
Three other teens in the other car were injured.
Troopers say for some reason, 16-year-old Josh Murphy crossed the center line on Highway 5 and ran into a carload of three other teenagers Wednesday night.
Dozens of people stopped by the crash site Thursday to pay their respects to Murphy, a popular student athlete at Chapel Hill High School.
Channel 2’s Richard Elliot spoke with the man who held Murphy in his arms and prayed with him as he died.
Ben Newell was just 10 seconds behind the crash. He saw it, stopped, and did what he could do to help.
He rushed to Murphy's car and along with an ER nurse and another man, pulled Murphy from the wreckage.
The only thing Newell knew to do was to hold him close and pray.
“We laid him down, and I cradled him in my arms, and I started praying with him because I didn't know what else to do,” Newell said.
Newell told Elliot he’s having a hard time with Murphy's death.
“I hope I gave him some comfort. I hope he knew I was there. I hope he knew that somebody asked God to come to him and give him peace,” he said.
Newell says they all could tell Murphy's condition was worsening with each second and that he didn't have long to live.
“(I) ask(ed) God to cradle him through this journey he was about to endure,” Newell said.
Paramedics rushed Murphy to the hospital, but he later died.
“The little bit I could do was nothing,” Newell said through tears.
Murphy’s father is the pastor at the Atlanta Revival Center in Douglasville. Associate Pastor Ashley Buckner says they're relying heavily on their faith.
“They're holding up basically. They're standing in faith, and we as a church body are standing with them,” he said.
Buckner spoke with Newell Thursday morning. He says he’s glad someone was praying with Murphy at the end.
“It made me feel good to know that someone was there with Josh, praying for him at that moment,” he said.
Josh Murphy's funeral is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at the Church at Chapel Hill. Click here to donate to help cover funeral costs for Josh Murphy.
WSBTV
