From Staff Reports

A 16-year-old Oak Mountain High School junior died in a one-vehicle accident last Saturday night.

Justin Thomas Griffin, 16, of Birmingham died as the result of a one-vehicle accident on St. Clair County Road 14 about one mile south of Hoover at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday, according to State Troopers.

According to Troopers, Griffin, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was traveling east on County Road 14 at a high rate of speed and lost control of his vehicle in a curb.

The vehicle spun twice, left the roadway and struck a power pole on the driver’s side.

Also according to troopers, a Shelby County Chaplain was at the scene of the accident and at the hospital where the family was notified of Griffin’s death.

The time was death was listed at 10:24 p.m.

Griffin was a student at OMHS where the school’s crisis plan was activated Monday.

According to Cindy Warner, public relations supervisor for Shelby County Schools, four counselors were set up in the media center to offer counseling to students who knew Griffin and were affected by his death.

She said another counselor followed Griffin’s regular class schedule, meeting students and teachers he would have had contact with.

In addition, youth ministers were on hand, including one from Griffin’s own church Meadow Brook Baptist.

OMHS Principal Randy Fuller described Griffin as an &uot;excellent student,&uot; who was &uot;kind of shy&uot; and who was &uot;very involved with computers.&uot;

Fuller said the student’s death was a shock and that counseling was offered not only to students but teachers as well.

In addition to being a student at OMHS, Griffin was active member of Meadow Brook Baptist Church, where he was involved in the children’s ministry and was

known to many as the computer wizard for his love of computers.

He is survived by his parents, Jim and June Griffin of Birmingham; his brother, Christopher Griffin and wife Gabby; his grandmother, Elizabeth Toomer; and many other relatives.

Service was Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Southern Heritage Chapel with burial following in Southern Heritage Cemetery, Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home directing.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Alabama Baptist Children’s Home