Family and friends remember a high school student killed in an ATV accident. Fifteen-year-old Austin Carmack died last night in the Cutshin Community of Leslie County.

He was a sophomore at Leslie County High School. The news of his death has many of his classmates and teachers in disbelief. Today, they say the school feels empty.

Austin's friends say they just couldn't believe it was him. Daniel Jones says, "When I heard last night, I didn't believe it, that he'd be dead right about this time."

Staci Melton says, "When I found out it was him, it really hurt my feelings, because he was a great person." Another friend says, "I didn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it."

Carmack was taken to Mary Breckenridge Hospital in Hyden. Those who could, showed up to see him. Austin's friend Dustin Bowling went and says, "There was a lot of friends there. We all felt bad. I was crying, pretty bad." Classmates say Austin had a way of brightening anyone's day.

"Anytime you had any problems you could tell him about it and he would just help you," Melton says, "and he was just really nice and just knew how to make you be happy."

School administrators say losing Austin hurts everyone who knew him. Leslie County High School Principal Kevin Gay says, "it's just a tremendous loss for our school. We are a small, close-knit community, and it really affects everyone, and it's just a tragedy."

Now friends are remembering the good things he brought to their lives. Jones says, "He was one of those kinds of people you are always smiling around. Even if you had a bad day, he'd make you smile."

Grief counselors and pastors from local churches were at the school today for students to talk to. Funeral arrangements are pending.