Lucas Knudson, a 17-year-old senior at Orono High School in Minnesota has been killed in a fiery car accident in Minnetonka.

Knudson’s death occurred around 10:47 p.m. the night of Sunday, November 17th, 2024, when he collided with a light pole near County Road 101, according to a crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol.

The deceased student was driving a Cadillac Lyriq east on Highway 7 when he went off the road and hit a light pole.

His SUV caught fire as the light pole toppled over. Firefighters quickly responded to the scene and put out the fire but the driver tragically lost his life.

Minnesota State Police did not identify the victim but Orono Public Schools identified him as Lucas Knudson of Corcoran in a letter that was sent to families and staff on Monday.

Knudson was a starter on the Orono High School varsity basketball team and participated in Unified and Letters of Love. The school described him as an ‘outstanding student’.

“Lucas came to Orono in Kindergarten and was an outstanding student,” Orono Schools Superintendent Kristine Flesher and Principal Amy Steiner said in the letter addressed to families in the district. “He was a starting player on the OHS varsity basketball team and participated in Unified and Letters of Love. He had many other interests and was a friend to all.”