BONNER COUNTY, Idaho — 17-year-old Charlie Miller from Bonner County, Idaho was killed after being struck by a fallen tree during the high wind advisories Wednesday evening. He was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, but he didn't survive surgery.
Charlie Miller was a 12th grader at Lake Pend Oreille High School in Bonner County. After being notified this morning of his death, the superintendent and extra crisis counselors were brought to the school.
“Charlie was an amazing kid — always super kind and super friendly and was a student that everybody's going to miss. I knew him from elementary, all the way through middle school,” Casey McLaughlin, Lake Pend Oreille School District’s (LPOSD) director of Secondary Education.
KREM 2 is told many kids went home to be with their families in light of the news. Lake Pend Oreille High School is a small, tight-knit community of about 90 students. Principal Luke Childers gives huge credit to his staff for serving the students today the best they can.
Charlie Miller was the youngest in his family. All three of his older brothers graduated from the high school. School staff say he was a very happy kid. All the staff were excited to see him graduate at the end of this year.
"Charlie Miller was in his final year at Lake Pend Oreille High School. Because he also attended both Kootenai Elementary School and Sandpoint Middle School, this tragedy is being felt district-wide by friends, families and teachers," LPOSD said in a press release.
The press release also said those who are interested in supporting the Miller family should contact Lake Pend Oreille High School for more details about how to donate.
