MOUNT OLIVE — A 19-year-old Sampson County teen was killed in a single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning.

With N.C. Highway Patrol offices closed for the King holiday, details about the accident are sketchy, but information gathered Monday shows that Zachary B. Howell, a graduate of Hobbton High School, died from injuries received in the accident.

According to the Highway Patrol in Wayne County, Howell, of 4964 Hobbton , was a passenger in a 2008 Nissan Altima traveling east on N.C. 55 that overturned in a field approximately 6.5 miles away from Mount Olive. The car came to rest after first running off the right side of the road. The vehicle continued through a ditch and struck a utility pole before overturning, said law enforcement officials.

Howell was in the right passenger seat, said a law enforcement source.

Representatives from the Highway Patrol said that there were at least two occupants in the vehicle at the time of the incident. However, no other names have been released.

Friends were shocked at the news of Howell’s death, and a funeral is being planned for Wednesday in the high school auditorium.

“He was a good person,” said Amber King, one of Howell’s friends. “He always said ‘yes sir and yes m’am’ when he was around adults, and he had a great sense of humor.” King said.

“He was funny; he’d make you laugh ... He’s pretty cool and knew how to have fun,” she added.

Howell enjoyed being with his friends, said King. “It was a shock to me when I found out about it; it is hard.”

As of Monday afternoon, no further details were made available to the press. Attempts to reach the trooper who conducted the investigation were unsuccessful. Numerous messages were left, but no response was returned by press time.

Howell was a first-year student at Sampson Community College. In 2008, he graduated from Hobbton High School.

Hobbton principal Wesley Johnson said Howell was a “great kid,” “a good guy” who will be missed by the Hobbton family. “He always came to school with a smile on his face ... He is going to be sorely missed.”

Funeral arrangements for Howell are being handled by Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. The funeral will be Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at the Hobbton High School auditorium in Newton Grove, with minister Robert Oliver and the Rev. Brad Bierowski officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Zachary Howell Memorial FFA Scholarship Fund, c/o The Family, 496 Hobbton Highway, Clinton N.C. 28328.

Michael Connolly can be reached at (910) 592-8137 ext. 120 or can be emailed at sicity@intrstar.net