The citizens of Canby, Oregon and surrounding areas are shaken after Matthew Dewar, an inspiring 16-year-old teen, was the victim of a fatal car crash, as he and two brothers headed to Country Christian school last Friday.
Matthew Dewar Saves Brothers in Fatal Car Crash
Matthew Dewar was the oldest son in his family, and he is remembered as a hero. When a black Acura SUV headed toward the boys’ maroon sedan and it became apparent that a collision would occur, Matthew Dewar swerved so the impact of the collision would be on the driver’s side and not where his younger brothers were sitting in the car. The Acura had been attempting to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone, when it collided with the Dewar’s vehicle.
The crash occurred in the close-knit community of Canby on Mulino Road, and when local firefighters reached the scene, Matthew Dewar had already passed away. To extract the 16-year-old, they had to remove the roof and doors with hydraulic tools. His two brothers, who are ages 10 and 12 had only suffered minor injuries. After the accident, a witness stopped and took the two younger boys into his car to wait for emergency responders.
The Community’s Response
Remembered as a young man with a solid Christian faith, strong athlete, successful student, inquisitive thinker, and fun and funny friend, brother, and son, Matthew Dewar’s death has left his family and friends with so much grief.
In a fox news post about the fatal car crash, the community pours out thoughts and prayers in the comments.
A friend of Matthew Dewar and his family shared, “He was a straight-A student who loved Jesus and took his job as a brother very seriously.” The friend described the victim of the fatal car crash as, “Kind, tender-hearted like his mom and dedicated to hard work and taking responsibility like his dad.”
Another family friend, Beth Livingston Wamala described the tragic event as “a waking nightmare.”
As a close family friend, Wamala had “snuggled (Matthew Dewar) as a baby and watched him grow through each stage.” She went onto to say that he had a “silly spirit” as a child and as he grew into a young man she had, “watched him develop…with a genuine heart for people and for God.”
Matthew Dewar’s cross-country coach at Country Christian, Tom Millbrooke, described him as “a very likable, easy-going young man” who was “coachable and a pleasure to work with.” Millbrooke explained, “His smiling face and pleasant personality were a constant that I would look forward to each practice.”
Knowing this tragic event would impact the student body ad Country Christian, the school prepared to support the students in their grief. They pointed students to a 24-hour crisis and support line, as well as other resources. According to the school, they gathered many administrators and counselors to support both the students and staff on that Friday during the day, as well as announced, “As we head into the weekend, we realize students may continue to need support…Our counselors will be available again on Monday to provide continued support.”
Country Christian art teacher, Aaryn Peterson, had Matthew Dewar in her class. In fact, because he was in her first-period, when he did not show up, she noticed his absence. Peterson said, “My classroom will feel empty without him there, but we are all fuller, better people because we knew Matt.”
Yet, Peterson also expressed hope. She said, “None of this makes sense to me, except that I know Matthew is in heaven and he’s playing one-on-one with Jesus. I am so grateful to know that truth.”
Hope in the Midst of Tragedy
The family’s church, Bethany Evangelical Church, also offered support to the community, and the youth pastor, David Beauving, knew Matthew Dewar well. When asked about the fatal car crash victim, he said, “He was always thinking of others. He had such a heart for people.”
The pastor remembered him asking him once, “How can we make youth a group of people who are really caring for each other?”
According to Beauving, Matthew said to him, “I don’t want us to just have fun. I want us to be a family like we’re supposed to be.”
Beauving described Matthew Dewar as, “Bold and courageous about his faith, but simultaneously, he was one of the kindest teenagers I knew.”
Despite the family’s deep grief over the loss, Matthew Dewar’s father, David, still expressed hope. “Our saving grace is that we know Matthew is in paradise,” explaining that he knows his son is no longer suffering or experiencing pain. David also used the opportunity to point others to Jesus, saying “I urge you to seek (Jesus) out so that you can have the same joy, peace, and assurance that he had.”
The family has a GoFundMe account to pay for funeral expenses.
