Crystal Lake Central grad dies in Florida

A Crystal Lake Central High School graduate died Thursday in a car crash in Florida, where he had moved last summer with his girlfriend to join his parents.

Danton Allen Gunter, 18, was driving a 2008 Toyota Scion tC when he lost control of his car and collided with an oncoming pickup truck at 2:24 p.m. Thursday in Estero, Fla., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Danton was pronounced dead at the scene, said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Sean Ellis. “We’re still figuring out how fast he was going,” Ellis said, adding that the roads were wet at the time.

Danton was an accomplished golfer and bowler who moved to Estero with his girlfriend, Kelly O’Grady, after he graduated from Crystal Lake Central in May, said close friend Brandon Whittier, of Chicago, a 2009 Crystal Lake Central grad. The two were on the high school varsity golf team together.

“He was always upbeat. He never got upset over things, he never was down,” said Brandon, who visited Danton in Florida in December, and was planning to visit again for spring break. Danton’s parents had also moved to Florida earlier last year, he said.

Danton was attending Edison State College in Florida, and wanted to transfer to Florida Gulf Coast University to study professional golf management, Brandon said. He was also in two bowling leagues and was planning to go to a bowling tournament in Reno, Nev., Brandon said.

The two friends talked every day, the last time less than an hour before Thursday’s crash, Brandon said. “We were playing Xbox with a bunch of friends, we were just talking about the game,” he said. “(His death) still doesn’t seem real.”

Danton was among the players instrumental in making the state tournament in 2007 and 2008, said Crystal Lake Central High boys’ golf coach Michael Hermann.

“I spent quite a bit of time with him, he spent time at my house over the summer,” Hermann said. “He was a great role model for the other kids. He was one of those kids you just want to be around.”

Hermann said his 1½-year-old son loved Brandon, too. “If my son could get half of the charisma that Danton had, he would be all right,” he said.