Former Arlington Heights football player dies in weekend crash

A former Arlington Heights High School wide receiver died over the weekend in a traffic accident.

Elijah Pierson, 22, died at John Peter Smith Hospital at 3:46 a.m. Sunday after a wreck in the 3900 block of Interstate 30, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office.

Pierson was eastbound in a Dodge Charger when he crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler, Fort Worth police spokesman Brad Perez said.

"After the collision, the Dodge caught on fire [and] an independent witness removed the driver, who was unconscious, from the vehicle," Perez said. He said he had no further details.

Phil Young coached Pierson in 2013, his senior year at Heights. The starting receiver "was very coachable, happy, hardworking and fun to be around," Young said Monday. "He always had a smile on his face."

This story was originally published April 30, 2018 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Former Arlington Heights football player dies in weekend crash."