Car crash claims life of Zach Minchin

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http://www.thepaper24-7.com/main.asp?Se ... leID=26316

Crash claims life of North graduate

An early Saturday morning crash claimed the life of a 2009 North Montgomery graduate.

Zach Minchin, 19, was killed in a one-car accident on U.S. 231 North just north of Lafayette Avenue in Crawfordsville. Minchin was traveling northbound on U.S. 231 when his vehicle left the road. Minchin was the only person in the vehicle.

The accident took place at 2:47 a.m. Saturday, May 29.

No other details were available from the Crawfordsville Police Department.

A 2009 North Montgomery High School graduate, Minchin competed in track and field for all four years. But he found his calling in pole vault.

Minchin finished his high school career as a back-to-back Montgomery County boys pole vault title winner. He won the event each of his final two years, going 10-feet 6-inches in 2008 before topping that mark by a foot his senior year (11-6) in 2009.

He finished second in the 2008 Sagamore Athletic Conference meet and third in the 2009 conference meet in the event. And he was a 2009 Indiana High School Athletic Association Lafayette Jefferson Regional qualifier.

North Montgomery boys' track and field Coach Ed Stuffle said Minchin followed his interest in the event.

"He got on the Internet. He got books. He talked to other coaches and athletes about it. He really studied the event . . . The more he studied the event, the more it made it a real joy for him," Stuffle said. "He was really pretty successful finishing out his career on a high with some outstanding performances and accomplishments."