Sammamish teen killed in crash: 'People did love him ... and that gives me a little comfort'

SAMMAMISH, Wash. -- For Jackie and Ken Griffith, there are no words to describe how they are feeling after losing their teenage son in a tragic car accident Sunday night.

"People did love him and he made an impact, and that gives me a little comfort, I guess," Jackie Griffith said Tuesday of her late son, Taylor Griffith, 16.

Taylor and retired Redmond Police Chief Steven Harris, 68, were both killed when their vehicles collided head-on near Redmond-Fall City Road and 244th Avenue Northeast in Redmond.  Harris’ wife was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

"There are two people who have died now and one is in critical condition and she's hanging on for her life and our prayers really go out to their family," said Ken Griffith, Taylor’s father.

Taylor, who his parents called “T”, was driving the pickup truck they gave him earlier this year as a birthday present.

He was preparing to enter his junior year at Eastlake High School in Sammamish.  His father said Taylor played on the football team and helped run the family landscape business.

"Taylor will forever be in our memories -- always," said Ken Griffith.

In junior high school, Taylor's parents say he volunteered with The Michael-Ryan Pattison Foundation, which aims to raise awareness for those living with paralysis.

They are asking people to make donations to that charity in their son’s name at www.acureiscoming.org