Friends Seek Truck Drivers To Help Honor ATV Crash Victim

WILMINGTON, MA -- Atley Miller, the 15-year old Shawsheen Technical High School who died in an ATV crash Sunday, loved trucks. It didn't matter what kind: If it was a truck, Miller wanted to talk about it, ride in it and work on it. His friends Connor Grabowski and Zach Grassia are trying to organize a tribute for the Wilmington resident that will encapsulate that passion.

Grabowski received permission from the Wilmington and Tewksbury Police Departments to assemble a convoy of trucks to attend Miller's funeral Saturday . Miller's funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Thomas of Villanova Church at 126 Middlesex Ave., Wilmington. Interment will be at Wildwood Cemetery in Wilmington.

"We've been been asking anyone with a pickup truck, tow truck, utility truck, semi truck, dump truck -- anything -- to come to his...funeral," Grabowski said.

All trucks will meet at the St. Williams Church parking lot, 1351 Main St, Tewksbury by 9am. As the funeral procession goes by, the trucks will be directed to merge into the procession to St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave, Wilmington.

At that point, drivers may choose to join the service or continue on. We do ask that if a driver intends to attend the cemetery that he/she park along side of Wildwood St (per Town of Wilmington) to attend the burial.

If you will be attending the procession please reply by email to kzfmom73@yahoo.com with:

1) Type of vehicle (ex: 2010 Peterbilt or 2001 Chevy Silverado, etc.)

2) Name / Organization Affiliation (ex: John Smith or Smith Towing Co)

This information will allow the family to plan accordingly with the funeral director as well as allow us to forward a list to Atley’s family of those who attended.

Miller's wake will be Friday at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home at 16 Lee Street in Tewksbury. Calling hours are from 3-7 pm.

Police and fire personnel responded to the crash, which was on private property located on South Street in Tewksbury at 11:12 am Sunday. In a statement, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said no foul play is suspected in the boy's death. A preliminary investigation concluded that the boy was the sole operator and rider on the ATV at the time of the accident.

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Photo by Connor Grabowski.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).