Three former Central High football players involved in fatal crash

SPRING HILL – A passenger in a vehicle that overturned several times on Hanford Avenue early Saturday morning died Tuesday night from his injuries.

Chad William Walker, 23, of Spring Hill, was not wearing a seatbelt when his twin brother, Chase William Walker, 23, lost control of the Ford Explorer he was driving.

The vehicle traveled onto the north shoulder and collided with a mailbox at 5305 Hanford Ave., south of Elgin Boulevard, and Chase Walker over-corrected the turn, traveled back across the road, and into a yard where the car flipped and rolled several times.

A Florida Highway Patrol report shows that Chad and Chase Walker remained in the car when it rolled, while another passenger, Michael Gene Sawchuk, 23, of Brooksville, was thrown from the vehicle.

Sawchuk was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained minor injuries, and did not require medical care.

Chase Walker was wearing a seatbelt, and received minor injuries.

However, Chad Walker was not wearing a seatbelt, and sustained serious injuries while inside the rolling car.

He was taken by emergency medical personnel to Oak Hill Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

All three were football players at Central High, where they graduated from in 2008. Chad Walker played wide receiver and defensive back, catching passes from his brother, who was the quarterback. As a senior he led the Bears with 34 receptions for 476 yards and five touchdowns.

Charges are pending, according to the report, and it is not yet known whether alcohol was involved.