Tullahoma community mourns 16-year-old in tragic accident

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WSMV) – Brodie Minor was known for his ability to make people laugh.

“He loved to have fun and didn't want people to be sad,” said Bob Callison, Tullahoma High School wrestling coach.

Although he loved to make others smile, it is said that one of his greatest loves was wrestling.

“I’ve spent more hours here in the wrestling room with Brodie than with any other wrestler,” Callison said.

Callison says Brodie was well-liked by his teammates and others, which is why Saturday night was all the more shocking for those who loved him.

“I got a call from one of our assistant coaches,” Callison recalled. “He asked if I had heard from Brodie, and I said no. He told me the news and I was like, no, you're wrong.”

Neighbors said Brodie crashed his motorcycle on Stone Boulevard around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. He died from his injuries.

Callison immediately rushed to the scene of the accident after receiving the call and found Brodie's family and teammates comforting each other.

“It's been tough,” Callison said. “Many of our children are suffering.”

The night of the accident, Callison opened the wrestling room to the public. He says people stayed until midnight and came back the next day, checking in on each other, looking for a safe place to grieve.

“I think people were injured when they arrived and left with slightly fewer injuries,” Callison said.

As investigators look into the cause of the crash, Callison looks for ways to remember Brodie and check in on his teammates, who are coping with an immeasurable loss just weeks after the start of school.

“We're going to go through some tough times in life, and this scenario is tough to learn from, but I think we'll come out of it stronger in the end,” Callison said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. We have asked them for more information.

A candlelight vigil for Brodie will be held on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Tullahoma High School football stadium.

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