WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Motorcycle accident claims teen's life

Motorcycle accident claims teen's life

By Chauncy Glover - bio | email | Twitter 

SMITHS STATION, AL (WTVM) - A motorcycle accident claims the life of a Smiths Station High School student.  Fifteen-year-old Kyle Ring died not long after a Friday night football game.

Family members say he died doing what he loved most. Ring began riding motorcycles when he was only 4-year-old.

"He loved to work on cars and he loved his motorcycle and he loved fishing," says Ring's aunt, Kaye Godwin.

The Russell County coroner tells us, on Ring's way back from a football game Friday night, he got into an accident with another car on Knowles Road -- just off U.S. Highway 431. 

Family members tell us, after fighting for his life 18 hours, Ring died during surgery."His injuries were so severe. He had a lot of internal bleeding," said Godwin. "He had a car he was working on. His car was ready to drive. He loved life, his mom and dad and his older brother. He wanted to open his own body shop when he grew up."

We're told he was planning to take his driver's license test. 

School administrators tell us several students went home, mourning the loss of their friend and classmate.

Smiths Station High school's principal says, everyone knew when Ring showed up for school in the morning by the roar of his motorcycle, but says he was a quiet kid who was on the Honor Roll. "He was a good kid and a good student. I remember him carrying his motorcycle helmet around everywhere he went."

Counselors will be available for all students having a hard time dealing with the loss.

Kyle's funeral service will be Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at Striffler-Hamby in Phenix City.


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