Students at Mortimer Jordan High School are mourning the loss of one of their own.

Joshua Fredrick, 16, was killed Monday just after 5 p.m. when his pickup truck crashed on Warrior-Kimberly Road near a bridge, about a mile from North Jefferson Middle School, according to Warrior police chief Ray Horn.

Fredrick apparently lost control of the truck and ran into a tree and was killed instantly, according to Shayne Carnes, Fredrick’s teacher in driver education class.

Carnes said the youngster was an excellent driver. “In my four-plus years of teaching the class, he was proobably one of the top five students,” Carnes said. “He was very attentive, knew the rules of the road, and was very comfortable behind the wheel. This accident was very shocking.”

Fredrick was a member of the Blue Devils football team, where he played offensive lineman, and was also on the track and field team.

Counselors were available at the school today to help Fredrick’s classmates deal with their grief.

It’s been three years since a Jordan student was killed during the school year. Richard Darin Johnson died in April 2010 in a crash on Decatur Highway.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. for fasmily, and from 5 to 8 for friends at North Highland Baptist Church in Warrior. Funeral services will be held at the church Thursday at 11 a.m.