Taylor teen killed in crash with semi-truck remembered fondly

Michigan State Police have identified the teen killed in this crash yesterday on the westbound I-696 ramp to southbound I-275.        

Family and friends of 17-year-old Ian Taylor  remember him as a kind person with a big smile.

"I'm just, I'm gonna miss him so much," said friend Russell Yandura. "They should've been the best 17 years ever."

Friends of Ian Taylor, Russell and Robert Yandura say when they heard the news he had been killed Monday afternoon, they wondered how it happened.

Michigan State Police say Taylor driving his Ford Focus in Farmington Hills, attempted to merge from Grand River and lost control of his car near the I-696 ramp. 

He entered the path of a gravel hauler beginning to merge onto I-275. Taylor was hit on the driver's side and died at the scene.

Police say speed was factor but are still investigating the crash.

"He was a really good-hearted kid," said Russell.

Friends of the teen who lived in Taylor, describe the Truman High School junior  as always smiling, laid back and polite and a very good student.

They say he enjoyed working on cars, tennis and golf.

The two are thinking of his family and say the message from this to other young drivers should be to drive carefully.

"Just be careful," Robert Yandura said. "You never know what's going to happen."