The Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a one vehicle crash that occurred westbound on SR 97, Mile Post 4, in Richland County on Tuesday. Christopher Steven Badger, an 18-year-old Northmor High School student, was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus when he traveled off the north side of the road striking a tree.
He was ejected from the vehicle. Badger was transported to MedCentral Hospital in Mansfield where he was later pronounced dead.
The crash is still under investigation. According to Diana Badger, his mother, speed seemed to be the cause of the accident. However, a mandatory autopsy is under way.
Christopher Badger is the son of Steve and Diana Badger. His mother offered some comments on losing her son. “He taught me so much, more than I ever taught him. He would do anything for people to keep them from being sad. He was a perfect son.”
“He was a very enthusiastic person with a bubbly and sociable personality,” said Northmor High School Principal Chad Redmon. According to Redmon, Badger had withdrawn from school in November, but was an avid weight lifter. The school held an after-school weight lifting program that Badger reportedly worked very hard at.
Burger King on state Route 97 in Bellville was the last place of employment for Badger. “He was a great kid and a wonderful employee. He was great, he got along well with everybody,” said Manager Jascie.
Vernon Fowler, Manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Lexington Avenue, where Badger worked before Burger King, also agreed that Badger was a good worker.
Badger also had a girlfriend: Cassady Connor. Connor had this to say about her boyfriend:
“Chris and I were only together for a couple months, but they say you can always tell when you’ve found the one. Chris was an amazing man and boyfriend. He was tough both mentally and physically. He loved going to the gym and kick boxing. He told me one day he dreamed of being a personal trainer. Chris was the most fun to be around, he was always making jokes and messing with me about something. He touched so many peoples lives and will be deeply missed.”
Numerous Tweets and Facebook statuses were directed to the sudden death of this friend. One friend wrote, “I cannot believe Chris Badger is gone, went to school together forever and he was one of the funniest kids I knew. RIP Chris, you and your family are in all of our prayers.”
Friend Melissa Danner had this to say about losing her friend:
“Chris was a great guy. He always was here for me through everything no matter how small or big. He was a dare devil and always enjoyed doing stupid things. One of the best memories I’m always going to remember with him is when he dared me to go down a hill in a bag he found on the ground that I could fit in, so I got in it and went down and hit a rock and thought I broke something and me and him just laughed the whole time; and he kept telling me he was a doctor and could fix it.
“There was never a dull moment with Chris. He always made people laugh no matter how upset they were. I am going to miss Chris and it kills me to see him go. I send prayers to his friends and family and hope we can all pull through this together.”
When Badger was 16 years old, he enjoyed the trainers at Buckeye Training & Fitness Academy in Mt. Gilead. According to owner Roc Castricone, Badger was a “sponge.” He became intrigued with the techniques of MMA and power lifting.
“He actually taught me a few things when we first met [about power lifting.] He really took a liking to grappling. He was a sponge. He took it all in; and if he had trouble with something, he would eventually figure it out. He was a hard worker,” said Castricone.
Funeral arrangements have been made through Gompf Funeral Service in Cardington for Sunday, January 12. Visitation will be from 12 p.m to 3 p.m. with a service starting at 3 p.m. His mother also added that a poem that Christopher wrote when he was six years old will be read and displayed at the funeral.
