WHARTON TWP. (KDKA) — A Fayette County teenager who was critically injured in a car accident last weekend near Nemacolin Resort has died.

Zack Nelson died at Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he and two other teens were flown after the accident late last Saturday night.

“He was young, he was just starting his life …,” Olivia Sarver, a friend, told KDKA-TV.

State police said the 17-year-old driver, who has not been identified, had been drinking when his car veered off Hardy Boulevard in Wharton Township and slammed head on into a tree.

Nelson and four other teenagers were passengers in the car at the time. Officials say Nelson had been on life support since the crash.

“Zach had a lot of close friends and hopefully they’ll get by and time will heal, but it’s going to be very tough,” Uniontown Golf Coach Aaron Scott said.

Nelson was captain of the high school golf team. He will be missed.

“He was always fun to be around,” Brandon Quinn, a friend, said. “No matter what, he always made you smile.”

Another one of the victims, Paige Hardy, the daughter of 84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy, was also seriously injured in the accident. She has been upgraded to fair condition as of this morning.

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