CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A 19-year-old Chillicothe man was killed in a crash in Ross County early Sunday morning, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 1:20 a.m. on Biers Run Road. OSHP says a Toyota RAV4, driven by Kayden McWhorter, was traveling northwest when it went off the right side of the road and struck a road sign and multiple trees.
McWhorter was pronounced dead on the scene.
Aaron McManes, a commercial carpentry instructor at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center, said he taught McWhorter for two years.
"He was a fantastic student. He was always very positive, upbeat. He treated people wonderfully. I mean, he had a great attitude, just an all-around great person. Nobody has anything negative to say about Kayden,” McManes said.
McWhorter graduated from the school’s commercial carpentry program last year. He also attended Adena High School.
According to Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center, McWhorter was on job placement his senior year with Acoustic Ceiling & Partition and he continued working for them after he graduated. He was also a member of the Central Midwest’s Carpenter’s Union.
McManes said McWhorter was the kind of person everyone liked to be around.
"Anything that we ever asked him to do he was always willing to jump in and help out any way that he could. Just an absolutely wonderful young man,” McManes said.
Adena Local Schools shared on its Facebook page it will be making grief counselors available on Monday to support students, parents and staff.
The crash remains under investigation.