A 16-year-old Viera Hawks football player, Brian Moss, has died after a traffic crash in which his family was involved, according to information released on Christmas Eve by the team’s coach and the family’s congregation.
Details of the deadly accident, including when and where it happened, were not immediately available from authorities contacted on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
The crash was not one investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, highway patrol officials said. The family had visited New York earlier this month.
Brian Moss was a freshman player with the Viera High football team and had last week been named the Varsity Specialty Player of the Year, said Hawks Coach Tony Gulla. Gulla said that the teen’s death will resonate with the student body and administrators.
“This is a tough loss. He was a great kid and an excellent student,” Gulla said.
The school will likely announce more information next week regarding any memorials, he added.
Multiple social media posts paying tribute to the teen were also made.
The Church at Viera, where the family attended church and was actively involved, released a Dec. 24 statement about the loss of the teen.
Brian’s mother had been expected to sing during the church’s annual Christmas Eve service before the accident,.
“Last night, the Moss family was in a car accident and tragically, Brian Moss has passed away due to injuries he sustained in the accident,” the message from church administrators said.
“Our church family is heartbroken over Brian’s death and we are holding you, his family, and his friends close in our prayers today.”
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. X: @JDGallop.
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