Individual Details

Joel Patrick "Grant" FURR

(December 6, 1990 - July 16, 2011)

The Lake County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim in a one-car fatal crash Saturday in Painesville Township as Joel Patrick "Grant" Furr, 20, of Fairport Harbor. "Speed was certainly an element, but we're still waiting on toxicology results," Sheriff's Capt. Lonnie Sparkman said. According to Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Pat Paterson: The incident was reported at about 6 a.m. Saturday by a passing motorist who noticed a vehicle off the road at the S-curves on Fairport Nursery Road just west of Hardy Road. The motorist did not witness the actual crash. Emergency responders found a heavily damaged Honda coupe at rest in the weeds off the north side of the road near a set of Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that run parallel to the road. The driver had been ejected from the vehicle and was found lying dead nearby. The crash may have occurred a couple of hours before the victim was found. Scene evidence suggests that the driver was westbound on Fairport Nursery before failing to negotiate the S-curves. The right front corner of the Honda struck and severed a utility pole. The Honda then rotated counterclockwise and overturned. There was no one else in the car. The Lake County Coroner's Office was called to the scene and also continues to investigate. The portion of Fairport Nursery Road where the crash occurred was closed down for about three hours as deputies investigated. Family friend Deb Karlovec said those who knew Furr will remember him as a "sweet, loving and caring person." "He loved to joke around with his friends and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it," Karlovec said. "(He) loved to chase girls and play pranks on his friends. He was so full of life and always had a smile on his face. At 20, it was way too young to go and he will be missed by all of us." Furr worked at Kirtland Country Club and was preparing for work as a golf instructor, Karlovec said. Calling hours are 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home, 368 Mentor Ave. in Painesville. Funeral service is 10 a.m. Thursday at Painesville Baptist Church, 140 Park Road Extension in Painesville.