Less-than one week after receiving his high school diploma, a local teenager is dead following a crash in rural Wadena on Tuesday night (May 27). 

Blake Unger, age 18, was killed in an accident near the intersection of 370th St and 640th Ave, northwest of Wadena at around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday night. According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, deputies located a truck on its side in a ditch near the intersection. Unger was found dead near the vehicle.

Unger received his high school diploma just days before the accident that took his life. He graduated from NY Mills High School on Friday, May 23 where he was a three-sport athlete and a member of the NY Mills baseball team that was still competing in the Section 5A tournament. He was also a member of the wrestling and football teams, as well as the Bluffton Braves baseball team and was crowned as the 2024 NY Mills High School homecoming king.

The driver of the truck, 18-year-old Izak Schermerhorn, was located and arrested under suspicion of DWI according to the sheriff’s office. He is facing charges of criminal vehicular homicide, fourth degree DWI and underage drinking and driving.

The crash is still under investigation.

Though not naming the recent NY Mills graduate by name, a post on the NY Mills School Facebook page stated counselors will be available on the school campus beginning on Wednesday, May 28 and through the remainder of the week for any students who may need help or assistance following the accident. The post encouraged anyone who may need support to visit the counseling office at any time.