Classmates remember Flathead student killed in crash
<p>Columbia Falls senior Darien Matthews, left, and Flathead senior Arielle Peters riding on horseback and leading an unofficial procession of students from behind Flathead High School to Legends Stadium in honor of fellow student Zachary Rhoads who was killed in a three-vehicle accident near Marion on Saturday, November 12. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Students gather behind Flathead High School on Wednesday afternoon, November 16, in Kalispell, to honor the memory of fellow student Zachary Chase Rhoads who was killed in a three-vehicle accident on Saturday, November 12, near Marion. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Classmates gathered Wednesday with the robust energy of a truck rally to remember Zachary Rhoads, 16, a friend described as quiet, loyal and dependable.
More than 30 teens converged in the parking lot behind Flathead High School to memorialize Rhoads, a sophomore at the school. Rhoads died Saturday in a three-vehicle crash near the Ashley Lake neighborhood. The crash also claimed the lives of two others.
Rhoads was a member of the Flathead football team. He was involved in vo-ag, drove a pickup, had “an awesome beard,” and “always had a story to tell,” his friends remembered. He had aspirations of playing professional football or becoming a diesel mechanic.
Truman Timmons, a senior at Flathead, said Rhoads was one of the nicest and most genuine people he’s met.
“He was one hell of a nice guy,” Timmons said, adding that the pair were planning to ride bulls in a winter and summer rodeo series.
Rhoads had transferred to Flathead nearly a year ago after moving from Laurel. In that short time he had made many friends.
The truck rally, solely organized by the teens, was the best way “a bunch of rednecks and cowboys” knew how to say farewell to their friend.
“It’s what a buddy would want,” said Jacob Zander, a senior at Flathead and teammate on the football team.
Many of the group agreed that Rhoads was someone who could be counted on or called day or night. Flathead senior Arielle Peters said she dated Rhoads at one time, and no matter what their relationship status was, remained extremely close friends.
“He always had your back,” Peters said.
Before driving around the neighborhood in a procession of pickups, the teens formed a circle around one student who shared some words about Rhoads. The student kneeled for a blessing and encouraging the group to “give one heck of an amen.”
Afterward, the group clad in cowboy hats and boots clamored into their pickups. They revved their engines and lined up behind two horses ridden by Peters and Columbia Falls High School senior Darien Matthews and headed toward Legends Stadium.
“I wish he’d known how much everybody loved him,” Zander said.
Flathead Assistant Principal Michele Paine said counselors were made available to students on Monday.
Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.