Joey Laquerre has died in an accident on Saturday afternoon when his ATV off-road vehicle crashed, reports Burlington Free Press.
According to updated reports on Joey Laquerre's deadly accident, Vermont's auto racing's first family immediately received an outpour of support and condolences on social media following the 17-year-old's confirmed passing.
Joey was apparently representing the family's fourth generation in car racing, and he was even considered as the most well-liked racer.
He was rushed to Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin but was pronounced dead shortly following the 12:50 p.m. accident, said Detective Lt. Lance Burnham.
Laquerre was said to have been driving his machine off West Corinth Road near Dow Road when he accidentally struck a tree.
The Washington Fire Department and EMS quickly responded to a call for an emergency situation involving the young racecar driver, according to Sportact.Net.
Joey's father, Jeff, is a multi-time champion crew chief who also had a successful past in racing albeit being short lived.
The East Montpelier teen representative's uncles, Jay and Joey Jr. are also multi-time winners on the race track.
His grandfather, who has the same name as his, is known for being the most successful driver in the 55-year history of Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre. He reportedly won 45 races and seven championships, with each being an all-time record breaker.
The late Joey Laquerre, who died in the tragic accident, was a U-32 High School student with six victories in ATV racing under his belt.
He started racing at age 14 in the top tier class and quickly gained popularity for finishing third in his first race ever at Devil's Bowl Speedway in West Haven.
On July 7, 2013, Joey Laquerre made it big by finishing second after 30 laps at Thunder Road, with his grandfather finishing third place.
Hi mother, Deborah, died in 2005 while his uncle, Joey Jr. passed away in a snowmobile accident back in 1991 just a few months after he won the 1990 Thunder Road championship.
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