Steven Wigley, 14, of Aragon was killed Monday night when he was struck by a car while riding a bicycle on Ga. 101 near the Floyd-Polk county line, authorities said Tuesday.

Marvin Williams, principal of Rockmart High School, had fond memories of the Rockmart student.

“When I saw him he was smiling,” he said. “He was a real jovial young man. Our heart goes out to his family and his friends.”

Williams said his school was focusing on “the wonderful memories he left behind” and allowed some of Wigley’s close friends who were with him shortly before the crash to be with the boy’s family Tuesday.

Wigley was riding his bicycle in the left-hand lane of Ga. 101 around 8:23 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a 2001 Kia Optima driven by Michael Blalock, 18, of Rome, said Mavoureen Willoughby of the Georgia State Patrol’s Cedartown post.

Blalock told the GSP he saw the boy as he topped a hillcrest while attempting to pass another vehicle. Though he swerved left to avoid the boy, Blalock struck the bike with the right front fender of his car. The bike was knocked 159 feet, according to GSP reports.

Blalock and passenger Jennifer Heath, 22, of Rome, skidded 1,143 feet before stopping. Neither was seriously injured, and Blalock will not be charged in connection with the wreck, officials said.

Wigley was pronounced dead later at Polk Medical Center, said Polk County Coroner Trey Litesey.