DICKSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — One Middle Tennessee family has approached the holidays missing a loved one.
Just two days before Thanksgiving, Dickson County High School student and member of the school's FFA chapter, 19-year-old Joshua Lugg, was killed in a crash.
"He loved everybody," his father, Jacob Crain, told News 2. "He just wanted to be liked and loved...Big, gentle giant he was — that's for sure," Crain added. "He was 6'6", big ol' farm boy."
Crain isn't the only family member that's taken it hard. Joshua's sister, Melissa Lugg, told News 2 that they were supposed to graduate together.
"He was my whole world," Melissa told News 2. "We were really close and we were supposed to graduate this year together, but now I'm going to do that on my own."
Relatives told News 2 that on Tuesday night, Joshua dropped off his girlfriend at her house. While he was driving home and going around a curve on Thompson Road, he lost control of his truck, hitting another vehicle.
By chance, it was his uncle that was behind the wheel of that other vehicle. Lugg was killed and, as of publication, his uncle is in critical condition. Speed may have been a factor in the crash, which is still under investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Meanwhile, Josh's family has tried to figure out what the future will be like without him.
"If I know Josh, he'd be sitting here saying right now, 'Kids, buckle up and slow down. You'll get there," Crain added. "'There ain't no rush.'"
"It's sad that it took this to happen, but he brought this community together like nothing I've ever seen before," Crain said.
Josh's funeral was Saturday. Because of his love of trucks, loved ones drove their pickups during the procession. Follow this link to donate to a GoFundMe for Joshua's memorial fund.