Cheerleaders mourned Thursday at the College of Southern Idaho for the loss of one of their own.
Teammate Sean Carey, 19, died Wednesday night after rolling his Jeep Wrangler along Interstate 84 in Jerome.
Carey was a freshman at CSI and before college cheered at Jerome High School, said Julie Wright-Leggett, his coach since April.
"Cheerleading was his life, he was just a really great kid," Wright-Leggett said Thursday. "My team is hurting."
Police say Carey probably fell asleep at the wheel around 11 p.m. Wednesday. He was belted, but died at the scene.
Headed west along I-84, Carey likely drifted into the median while driving a 10-year-old SUV. He overcorrected and then rolled, according to ISP.
Teammate Justin Brunk, 19, says he heard Carey hung out with other cheerleaders before the crash. Wright-Leggett got the bad news in a phone call before the start of Thursday morning's practice, she said.
The team is like a family, according to its members.
"We're going to miss him so much," said Brunk.
In his first year on the squad, Carey kept busy. A student, Carey also worked a night shift at a local big-box store and practiced cheer for at least 10 hours a week, said Wright-Leggett.
"Sean had been working just horrible hours," Brunk said.
Wright-Leggett had spoken with Carey about practicing on enough sleep, she said.
State police are still investigating Carey's crash and say drivers should "pull over at a safe location and rest" if they become tired.
There are only nine male cheerleaders now on CSI's squad. Nine women also cheer. Wright-Leggett has cancelled practice at least until Tuesday for emotional reasons, she said. "We will go to the funeral as a team."
Carey's funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, but cheerleaders plan to dedicate a cheer to Carey and his family at an upcoming basketball game, said Wright-Leggett.
"God used Sean in a great way, because Sean showed that you are who you are," said Brunk, who visited with his pastor for four hours after hearing the news Thursday. "He brought love, passion and friendliness."
Wright-Leggett said Casey could have done her job one day. "I know he would have been a really great coach."
The college is offering counseling to the cheerleaders and "joins others in extending their sorrow and sympathy to the family and close friends," said CSI spokesman Doug Maughan, in an e-mail Thursday.
Andrea Jackson may be reached at ajackson@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3380.