DAYTON — A community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old killed in a crash in Dayton.
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Inside the Texas Roadhouse in Fairborn, a booth is temporarily taken.
“One of our ways to remember him by and all the great things,” Josie O’Dell, manager at the Texas Roadhouse said.
It’s occupied with items remembering Lucas Hamilton.
“Originally I had set it up just for guests to come in and see we’ve lost one of our own and it just blew up,” O’Dell said.
She worked with Hamilton at the restaurant. He was hired in May.
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The flowers and cards are now signs of the impacts he made.
“We have a journal describing all of our favorite memories to give to his family and all that. And it was amazing to see everybody, just endless amounts of love, just come in and support him,” O’Dell said.
News Center 7 previously reported that Hamilton died in a go-kart crash along Kemper Avenue in Dayton Monday night.
Police said he ran into the back of a pickup truck.
Juanita Graham saw the emergency response from across the street.
Medics took Hamilton to the hospital but he died from his injuries.
“I mean, it was really sad because they ride those through here ... that’s not the first time I’ve seen him on the go-kart,” Graham said.
“How will I always remember Lucas? His nickname around here was Big Red. So always call him Big Red. And I think he’ll forever remain with us and in our hearts,” O’Dell said.
Hamilton was also a student at Carrol High School before transferring to an online school.
The school said they had a morning prayer for him.
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