The Springboro community is mourning the loss of a high school football player after he was killed Thursday in a car crash on his way to school.

Shaun A. Frechette, 17, was driving a Ford Crown Victoria north on Ohio 741 when he ran off the right side of the road and hit a utility pole, according to police. He was found at 6:23 a.m. by a Clearcreek Twp. police officer on routine patrol.

Officials do not know what caused the Springboro High School student to crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This is a sad time for our school district. We will do everything we can to bring comfort and support to our school community,” said Springboro City School Superintendent Todd Petrey.

Grieving students were being directed to the high school’s library Thursday, where counseling was available.

“The district’s crisis plan has been activated, our counseling staff has been notified and our school staff stands ready to support the family and friends of this young man,” Petry said.

Frechette played for the high school’s football team, which is seeded second and will play in the Div. I state playoffs on Saturday.

“We had a team meeting (Thursday) morning and talked to them. They’re getting over that initial grief-stricken moment when you hear bad news,” said head football coach Ryan Wilhite.

Frechette “was an unbelievable JV player for a guy who would obviously be a starter his senior year, for sure,” he said.

Springboro hosts Lakota East High School at 7 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the Division I, Region 4 high school football playoffs. When asked if Saturday’s game might be rescheduled, Wilhite said he would “meet with my captains and we’re going to get our heads together on that.

“Probably, these guys are all going to want to play on Saturday and they’re going to want to play for him,” he said.

There have been 78 teenagers killed on Ohio roadways this year, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Five teenagers have been killed in Warren County.

This is the 16th fatal accident in Warren County in 2012, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. It’s the second on Ohio 741 in the past two weeks.