Trevor Heitmann, known on YouTube as McSkillet, has been confirmed as one of three people killed in a horrific car crash in San Diego.
Witnesses told police the 18-year-old was driving the wrong way down a busy highway at 160km/h when his McLaren sports car hit another vehicle.
A 43-year-old mother and her 12-year-old daughter inside the other car were also killed.
Mr Heitmann had a popular YouTube channel with 900,00 subscribers.
He used the channel to discuss video games and promote custom products known as "skins" to alter the look of characters.
McSkillet reportedly drove his car into oncoming traffic at high speed. Source: Twitter
California highway patrol officer Jake Sanchez told CNN that Mr Heitmann's online popularity had generated a lot of interest in the crash.
"There's been a lot of media attention regarding this case based upon what this person, I guess, did for a living," he said.
"So there's obviously more attention drawn to this case for that purpose. So we have been receiving calls from out of state, east coast, overseas, from England. London, England, specifically."
Social media users who said they were friends of the YouTube star posted that he was having a "rough time" and struggling with depression.
Witnesses to the crash said they saw the car swerve before the collision.
Witness Hector Puga told NBC News: "All I could do was hold on to my steering wheel and run over everything that exploded."
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25).
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