The Butler County Coroner's Office has identified the victims of a severe head-on collision that occurred yesterday morning. Sixteen-year-old Wyatt Sidney Duckworth, hailing from Middletown, tragically lost his life in the crash on West Elkton Road. According to the office of Dr. Lisa Mannix, the county coroner, Duckworth succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries, confirming his death was accidental. A report by The Enquirer adds that the crash occurred around 6:30 a.m., involving Duckworth's 2005 Pontiac and a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban SUV.
Duckworth’s 13-year-old sister, who was in the passenger seat of the Pontiac, sustained life-threatening injuries and had to be airlifted to Dayton Children's Hospital. The other vehicle involved was operated by a 60-year-old social studies teacher from Edgewood City Schools, Kevin Johnson, who also suffered severe injuries and was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, as detailed in an article obtained by FOX19.
The Butler County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred when Duckworth's vehicle moved left of center, leading to a direct collision with Johnson's SUV. The sheriff’s department relayed, "The driver, the 16-year-old male, and the 13-year-old female were leaving their mother’s house in the city of Hamilton, headed to their father’s house to get ready for school," in a statement acquired by FOX19.
The Preble Shawnee Local Schools, where Duckworth was an eleventh grader and his sister also attends, have responded by making counseling and support staff available to students. Superintendent Todd Bowling communicated to families, "Throughout the rest of today and Friday, October 18th, we will have counselors and support staff available for any student who wishes to talk or needs help processing this tragedy," which was highlighted in coverage by FOX19. The schools provide this individualized support as needed instead of making a formal announcement to the entire student body.
Sheriff Richard Jones extended his sympathies, stating, Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, a sentiment echoed throughout the shocked local community. The collective heartache resonates palpably as neighbors and friends reconcile with the repercussions of a Thursday dawned in tragedy. WLWT also reported on the identification of the young victim in the aftermath of the collision.
