BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Bentonville West High School announced that a senior died in a car crash on Monday (Sept. 22).
The student has been identified as Oliver “Oa” Doctorello.
“He was just a great teammate. He was so selfless. He cared more about his teammates and the team then he cared about himself,” Aaron Wise said.
The senior was on the wrestling team and his coach Aaron Wise says he can’t really compare Oa to anyone he has ever met before.
“He was such a bright light, such a bright person. He just had this infectious smile and charming personality. He lit up every room that he walked into,” he said.
Coach wise says Oa was tough, a hard worker and a force in his ability in wrestling but what he will remember is the type of person he was on the team, a leader and someone everyone looked up to.
“He cared about everyone on the team, it didn’t matter if they were varsity, JV or freshmen, he was someone that brought everyone together and everybody loved him,” he said.
Bentonville West Principal, Jonathan Guthrie says not only was Oa an athlete he was also a member of the choir.
“Losing Pao is a big loss for the Bentonville West family, but we remember him so fondly and like I said if you knew him, he made you smile all the time, so you have to do that when you remember him,” Guthrie said.
Coach Wise says he was such a bright person, loved everyone and spread that love and joy to everyone he came in contact with.
“I can say for me personally, he left me better than he found me. He left our team and our school better than he found us and he left the world better than he found it and he is going to be greatly missed,” he said.
Leslee Wright with Bentonville Public Schools released the following message about his death:
Words fail us today but we’re united in loving support. Our counselors are prepared to care for our students and staff as they process this pain. Please lift up Oliver’s family, in prayer, as they grieve this immeasurable loss.
Shannon Jenkins with the Benton County Sheriff's Office says the wreck occurred on Ventris Road and that his car was the only one involved in the accident. Jenkins also stated that he was exceeding the posted speed limit.