NEWS

Moore community grieving after high school student dies in motorcycle collision Thursday

Oklahoman

A close-knit community in Moore, already familiar with tragedy, is mourning the loss of a high school student after a fatal motorcycle crash Thursday.

The student, 17-year-old Kolby Scott Dutton, died Thursday while riding his motorcycle about 12:20 p.m. near SW 107 and Western Avenue.

"The driver of the motorcycle was traveling north on the road when another vehicle was coming out of a private drive, and they collided," said Capt. Valerie Littlejohn, with the Oklahoma City Police Department. "Unfortunately, that driver of the motorcycle was deceased at the scene."

Police said they arrested the driver of the other vehicle, 70-year-old Judy C. Todd, who "showed signs of impairment," according to officers. She was booked into the Cleveland County jail on complaints of driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, first-degree manslaughter and failure to yield from a private drive.

Investigators said Todd was not injured in the collision and Dutton was wearing a helmet at the time.

Kolby Dutton, 16 at the time of this Thanksgiving photo provided by family members, poses with his beloved motorcycle. Dutton died Thursday at the age of 17 after a fatal collision near Westmoore High School.

Family, friends, co-workers still processing the sudden loss

Moore Public Schools released a statement Thursday, offering condolences to Dutton's loved ones and the student community.

"To assist and support our Westmoore family, the MPS Mental Health Team is available on-site at WHS through the final day of school (Friday)," officials said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members and friends affected by this severe loss."

Dutton, who was just about to enter his senior year at Westmoore, was remembered as a car enthusiast, whose zeal for wheels was as infectious as his energy.

Henry Martey, a friend who would often meet with Dutton at local auto shows, called Dutton his "little brother from another mother."

"We've had two car meets already this year, and each meet that we've had, he's always been there the whole duration of the meet, from the start until the very end," Martey said. "He'd just go around talking to everybody, and every time he'd see me, we'd have a good conversation for at least 15 minutes about cars."

A photo, dated March 15 and provided by family members, shows a helmeted Kolby Dutton posing in front of his beloved motorcycle.

"I literally just froze, man," Martey said of when Dutton's sister, Kasey, called him to tell him of her brother's death. "I wasn't expecting to hear it. I was telling myself there was no way that could've happened, because I'd just talked to him not too long ago on my birthday about the next car meet we were going to see each other at. It was hard to take in."

Martey said he's talked with co-hosts of the upcoming car meet on May 28 to dedicate the event to Dutton's memory.

"He's literally a light to the world," Martey said.

On May 3, as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month was just beginning, Dutton shared a social media post, encouraging people to "Look Twice. Save A Life."

Management and co-workers at Eurotek, a motorcycle dealership in Oklahoma City where Dutton worked, said Friday morning the shop "will never be the same" without him.

"He brought a smiling face, positive attitude, and amazing work ethic to our shop EVERY DAY," a tribute on Eurotek's Facebook page reads. "The passion he exuded for life and motorcycles was inspiring and to say that he will be missed is an understatement."

Deadly motorcycle crash the latest tragedy for Moore schools

Westmoore High School, pictured here on Monday, May 16, 2022, is the school 17-year-old Kolby Dutton was attending as a student. Dutton was not yet in his final year, but the fatal collision that took his life occurred two days after graduation ceremonies at Westmoore.

Moore Public Schools has suffered several tragic events in the past decade. In May 2013, seven children died after a devastating tornado struck Plaza Towers Elementary School. And in February 2020, three Moore High School students died and four were injured after a truck driver drove through a group of cross-country runners.

Anna Aguilar, director of communications and community relations for Moore Public Schools, said she was heartbroken after Dutton's death and has been reflecting on other traumatizing events in the district over the years.

She said a special tribute was planned at this year's graduation ceremony for the Plaza Tower Elementary tornado victims, who would have just been graduating from Southmoore High School.

"We typically don’t read out the names of students we lose over the school year, but instead have a lantern on stage to represent their light and spirit that continues," Aguilar said. "This year each of the seven students from Plaza Towers had lanterns on stage during the whole ceremony."