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BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Those who knew Braxton McComas say he was a hard-working, highly intelligent young man of impeccable character.

Cabell Midland classmate Amon Harbour says he and McComas were like brothers.

“Braxton was the one person who was against everything,” Harbour said. “No drinking, no smoking, nothing.”

When asked what he’ll miss most about his friend, Harbour said, “Just his presence, being able to talk to him. I did basically everything with him.”

Harbour says on Independence Day, he, McComas, and a third friend were hanging out, playing guitar at McComas’s home in East Pea Ridge in the afternoon.

Then they played pickleball at Barboursville Park. Harbour says they thought about staying there to watch the fireworks but decided to leave and call it a night early.

McComas dropped Harbour off at his home near Alternate Route 10 a little before 9 p.m.

Moments later, he was dead.

“It’s very devastating,” Harbour said.

Harbour says what turned out to be their final words to each other does give him some solace.

“Every time we drop each other off or leave each other, we always tell each other we love them,” he said. “I’m glad I got to do that. It helped a lot knowing I got to give a goodbye.”

Shortly after dropping off Harbour, police say McComas’s car was struck at the intersection of Route 60 and Alternate Route 10.

At least one dead in Barboursville-area crash

Harbour says he got a phone call later than night telling him about what happened.

Police say the driver responsible, 23-year-old Joshua Wilson, from Middleport, Ohio, will face DUI charges when he’s released from the hospital.

Arrest warrants issued following fatal Route 60 crash

“It’s awful,” Harbour said. “He’s just the perfect kid, and of course this happens to him, just an awful thing. It shouldn’t have been him. No one deserves this. He didn’t deserve it at all either.”

McComas’s funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lewis Memorial Baptist Church. Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church.

Harbour says the other friend, McComas’s passenger in the wreck, is still in the hospital recovering.