A Kansas State University student from Salina who was killed in an accidental car fire Thursday is missed by many family and friends, who described him as adventurous and fun to be around.

Christopher W. Garlow, 21, was found dead in a 2002 BMW that was engulfed in flames when emergency responders arrived at 6:13 a.m. Thursday in a business area of Manhattan.

A preliminary investigation by Riley County officials and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was accidental and started in the engine compartment. Autopsy results indicate that Garlow died of inhalation of hot fumes and gases, and his death was ruled an accident. His body was found lying across the front seats of the car, said Lt. Herbert Crosby Jr., of the police department's support division.

Garlow, the son of Dr. Bill and Laurel Garlow, was about to start his senior year at K-State in business management. He was a 2006 Salina Central High School graduate who grew up in Salina and was well known for his abilities on the soccer field.

Kansas Wesleyan soccer coach Mike Dibbini coached Garlow when he played for the Salina Menace, a showcase soccer team formed by some of the founding members of the Salina Soccer Club. The Salina Menace was formed to expose children to the game and to other parts of the world where soccer is played. Dibbini said Garlow was a "pinnacle player" on the team. The Menace competed in the U.S. Cup in Minnesota and traveled to London to compete in a nine-day tournament when Garlow was in seventh grade.

Dibbini coached Garlow at Central High, as well, where he played forward.

"He was a phenom at the high school level," Dibbini said. "He was very charismatic, outgoing and easy to get along with."

Scott Knox, who also played for Salina Menace, had known Garlow since he was 3 months old. Members of the team who grew up playing soccer together became and have remained close friends.

"We became such a close group of friends that it really hurts that he's gone," Knox said.

He said friends and family are invited to get together at 1 p.m. today at Bill Burke Park to play a soccer scrimmage in memory of Garlow.

"That's something we figured he would want us to do," Knox said.

Knox said he thought a time when Garlow was a senior and scored a goal against South High School probably would have been his favorite high school memory.

"He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning," Knox said. "He was so excited."

Garlow's accomplishments in high school didn't end on the soccer field. He was nominated as a delegate to American Legion Boys State his junior year and returned the following four years as a counselor for the leadership program.

Thane Chastain, director of development for Boys State of Kansas, said Garlow made it through a "highly selective" process to be chosen to serve as a member of the program's volunteer staff. He helped at this year's event in which 450 boys convened on the K-State campus from May 31 to June 6. Chastain said staff members develop close ties as they work together through the program.

"I think it's safe to say some of his closest friends were from the program," Chastain said. "Probably some of the sharpest people we've known in our lives have been through the program."

In 2007, Garlow sang "Lean on Me" in the Boys State annual talent show, and video of that performance will be shown at his funeral, Chastain said.

"I think that will be a real treasure and keepsake for his family," he said. "Some people have said the song takes on a much deeper and more profound meaning now that he's gone. It will probably bring back a lot of memories and emotions for some people."

Garlow continued playing soccer at the university level. He attended Colorado Christian University for a year after high school, where he played on the university soccer team.

When he transferred to K-State the following year, Garlow played on the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity soccer team and shared tips with other players, making the team good enough to win the All Fraternity Championship the year he joined, said Justin Bastin, president of the fraternity, also known as the Pike House.

Bastin said the fraternity plans to plant an oak tree in memory of Garlow and will honor him in its own memorial service when the fall semester starts. Funeral services have not yet been announced; Ryan Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Bastin, who also grew up in Salina, said he had known Garlow since elementary school.

"He was the type of guy everyone absolutely loved," Bastin said. "He was easy-going and fun-loving."

Bastin said Garlow cruised the hallways of the fraternity house on his Ripstik caster board, a two-wheeled board similar to a skateboard, starting a trend that other house members began to follow until less-talented riders began getting hurt.

"Truthfully, everyone has at least one incredible memory about him," Bastin said. "He was a person who livened up the environment. He made everything electric."

Two or three times, Garlow loaded up fraternity friends and drove to Colorado, where he loved to snowboard and introduced friend Jade Provo and others to "cave diving."

"He was leading us and showing us how to get up on top of a big rock, and he fell and we had to catch him," Provo said. "That was Chris. He had a take-charge personality."

Provo said it was fun to attend the Country Stampede with Garlow, who loved singing and dancing to country music.

Provo said he will miss Garlow's laugh.

"He was really loud and funny," he said. "He kind of brightened up your day."

Provo had been planning to meet Garlow and other friends in Derby this weekend.

"He never really said no to a fun time," Provo said. "Anything you did with him was fun. He made things better."