Community celebrates life of teen who graduated days before fatal car crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - His name was Drew Price. On his jersey for the Park Hill High School Trojans football team, he wore number 42. He was going to attend Missouri Western State University on a full scholarship.

Sadly, three days after graduating from Park Hill, 17-year-old Price was killed in a crash.

On Tuesday, May 23, North Kansas City police and the KCPD both responded to a three-vehicle collision where the car struck a light pole.

Price, who would have been 18 on July 21, was said to be quiet, kind and joyful.

Mary McClendon, Price’s Aunt, said that he had been with her since his third or fourth grade year in school.

“He was an amazing kid,” McClendon said. “A joy to have around.”

As a student athlete, Price played basketball and ran track, but football was where his heart was at.

“I said ‘Drew, what about basketball?’ and he said, ‘Auntie I just want to do football. I like football.’ And so, that’s what he did.”

Price was an outside linebacker for the Trojans football team. Once he found football, McClendon said, all other sports fell by the wayside.

Marc Harman, a social studies teacher Park Hill High, said that Price was easy to get along with and that he never heard him complain.

“I don’t know one person who didn’t get along with Drew,” Harman said.

Harman went on to mention that Price had set his sights on pursuing architecture and described him as being extremely curious about a lot of things.

“One of his classmates remembered a time when he was in bio-med, and he was looking at a vile with his DNA inside,” Harman shared. “He was so amazed to just look at his DNA.”

“Drew had an infectious caring spirit, always to make sure you felt valued. Drew is remembered as a HERO with a will of fire.”

Price shone just as brightly in the classroom as he did on the field. KC Scholars chose him as a recipient in 2023.

“He was always the type of kid to try to do for himself and figure things out on his own,” McClendon shared. “He would cut grass. He worked at Chipotle, McDonald’s and HyVee.”

McClendon said that, on the evening of the accident and before Price left to hang out with his friends, they were speaking about his dorm qualifications. He also told her that he was going to text her in regard to his dorm for the upcoming fall semester.

“I told him, ‘Goodbye. I love you and please be safe,’” McClendon said. “That was the last thing I got to say to him.”

McClendon said that Price’s girlfriend told her that the last text message she received from him was at 6:08 p.m.

Tragically, Price was not wearing his seatbelt when the crash occurred. Everyone else involved in the accident either had minor injuries or suffered no injuries at all.

“It’s so hard to pick one memorable moment with Drew when there’s so many,” Harman said, full of emotion. “I remember seeing him after the graduation ceremony and I just gave him a big hug and congratulated him,”

It’s clear that this is a loss not only to a family but also to Park Hill High School. Football Coach Andy Sims tweeted about the loss a day after the collision:

“One thing I’ll say is: Drew knew what he was supposed to do. He knew he was supposed to have his seatbelt on, but kids make mistakes,” McClendon said.

Price’s funeral service was set to be held on Friday, June 9, at Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. However, due to unresolved issues, Price’s service has been postponed to a later date.

McClendon said her only focus is laying her nephew to rest.

“I miss him, and I love him,” McClendon said.

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