Teen killed in I-89 crash remembered

By NATHAN LAMB | Milton Independent Staff Writer
miltonreporter@yahoo.com

Jeremy Campbell was a cadet Master Sgt. in the Jr. ROTC (shown above proudly wearing his uniform) while also attending Essex Technical Center.

ROTC junior Air Force, computer wiz, hard working teen; 19-year old Jeremy Campbell was all of those things, yet also much more, according to those who knew him.

Guidance counselor Lynn Vera of the Essex Technical Center described Campbell as a young man with clear gifts and goals, but also a people-person with a well-developed sense of fun.

Overall, she described him as a young man who transcended labels. That impression was reinforced by the number of friends who spoke at a service honoring his life on Monday, she said.

“I was struck by the diversity of kids who he was friends with,” she said, “This kid knew how to have fun, have a lot of friends, manage to hold two jobs, and go to college for computer engineering.”

“You couldn’t pigeonhole or stereotype him,” she said at another point.

That promising young life came to an end after Campbell rolled his SUV on I-89 in the early hours of Oct. 11.

According to the State Police, Campbell was traveling north on I-89 at approximately 1:30 a.m. when he inexplicably lost control of his 1989 Ford Bronco near exit 17.

Campbell, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was reportedly thrown from the vehicle. He was transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care by Milton Rescue, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Though the incident is still under investigation, the State Police said neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors. Instead, it appears Campbell may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

An obituary submitted by the family described Campbell as an ambitious and energetic young man. He was studying computer engineering at the Vermont Technical Center in Williston while working as assistant manager at the Essex Junction Wendy’s and holding down another position at Fletcher Allen Health care.

He graduated with honors from the Essex Technical Center in 2007 and participated in the school’s Junior Air Force RTOC program, where he excelled at drill and was invited to join a National Young Leaders Conference

Jeremy’s ultimate goal was to open his own computer shop, said his father, Travis. Overall, he described Jeremy as a young man with a strong work ethic, passion for computers, and amazing smile.

Jeremy was the type who couldn’t sit still for long and his interests included rebuilding computers to make them better and faster for friends, and producing a video about being in RTOC, continued Travis. He said that energy was contagious.

“He’s the type of person that, when he stood next to you, he could give you a boost of energy to do just about anything,” he said.