Family mourns loss of 18-year-old in tragic ATV crash

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A Fourth of July weekend that was supposed to be full of celebration ended in grief for the family of 18-year-old Kaylee Watkins after a fatal ATV accident on Friday, July 3. Watkins was invited to a weekend of ATV riding with her boyfriend’s family when tragedy struck. She was a passenger on an ATV that got into an accident, killing her on impact. Now, the family is devastated, saying they feel like they lost a bright light in their lives way too soon. “She blessed everybody she ever encountered,” said Clark Mote, Kaylee’s uncle. Kaylee had the phrase “in the darkness, be the light” tattooed on her shoulder, a phrase that her dad once told her. Even though it once served as a reminder to herself, it now represents how she brought light into the world. “Even now, what’s burned in my memory is just her smiling,” said Lara Mote, Kaylee’s aunt. Kaylee wanted to teach others, having just graduated from Kettering Fairmont High School and planning to start at Wright State University in the fall for early childhood education. “That was part of the last conversation I had with her when we visited a few months ago,” said Lara Mote. “How excited she was about being able to do that.” Since her passing, people have been pouring their love for Kaylee all over social media, and the family has mentioned how encouraged they are by reading those messages. “The blessing she was to people, we’re going to continue to discover over time,” said Clark Mote. “That’s pretty exciting, even amidst this horrible thing that has happened.” The family has said that they do not place blame on anyone for this incident. Rather, they want it to be a time of coming together in honor of Kaylee and the impact she made on everyone. Kaylee's visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 10, at Routsong Funeral Home. The service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The family is currently collecting donations for Kaylee's memorial fund.