UPDATE: On June 26, 2025, 2 News received confirmation from an official release published by Mayes County District Attorney Matt Ballard that charges were not brought forth against the truck driver believed to have struck the teen in the early morning hours of Sept. 22, 2024:
In the pre-dawn hours (approximately 4:30 a.m.) of September 22, 2024, the driver of a semi accidentally struck and killed 15-year-old Caiden Adkins, who was on his bike on Highway 69 in Mayes County.
Investigators and the district attorney determined the collision was unavoidable. The driver immediately informed his trucking firm’s management that he had hit what he thought was a deer.
Evidence used to determine this was not a crime included:The district attorney and members of law enforcement recognize that this accident resulted in a tragic loss and extend their condolences to Caiden’s family and friends.
- Video from the truck’s forward-facing camera
- Engine Control Module (ECM) data showed the driver was not speeding, and there were no indicators of dangerous or distracted driving
- Immediately after impact, the driver used his brakes to slow to 12 mph before he found a place he could safely pull over and notify his managers of the incident
- The driver and the company that owns the semi he was driving were cooperative with the police investigation from the start
Original story: Investigators believe a hit and run crash killed 15-year-old Caiden Adkins while he rode a bicycle just north of downtown Pryor on Sept. 22.
"It's very tragic that this would happen and somebody would leave the scene," Pryor Creek Chief of Police Jeremy Cantrell said Sunday afternoon.
Chief Cantrell said foul play is definitely suspected after the teen and his bicycle were found on U.S. Highway 69 Sunday before 5 a.m. just south of Old Airport Road.
Investigators believe the boy left home in Mayes County in the middle of the night and rode his bike on the southbound shoulder. After reaching Pryor City limits, a semi truck linked to a company with a Tulsa base struck him then fled, PCPD said.
WATCH: 2 News covered the crash the day after it happened:
He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Cantrell said his team has an idea of the vehicle thanks to a nearby Flock camera, which keeps track of vehicles wanted by law enforcement.
"There's not much traffic out during that time frame," the chief said. "There are, you know, different types of vehicles. If you're on 69 Highway there's semis, there's cars, there's trucks. But the Flock camera is just south of that location, so whoever did this is likely to hit that flock camera."
Days into the investigation the chief said there are "strong leads" and investigators are in touch with the company.
"(We're) figuring out the driver and getting his information and seeing if there's a camera in the semi to help solidify what exactly happened in this scenario," Chief Cantrell said. "It's a tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. And we just want justice for them and to bring some closure."
Adkins' family released a statement in memory of Caiden, and asked the community to help fund funeral expenses through a GoFundMe created in wake of his death.
Losing a child at any age is a burden that no one should have to bear. As we work to navigate through our grief of losing him at just 15, we would like to share a bit about what made Caiden special.
Caiden was a passionate and determined boy. When it came to the things he loved, there were no limits. Caiden was creative - always coming up with new and improved ways to do things. He created his own film scenes, and built upgraded versions of his favorite models, The Titanic. The loss is being felt deeply throughout his family, as well as among all of his friends in Bixby and Adair.
The family would appreciate that if anyone knows anything about the vehicle involved, they would step forward and call the Pryor police department. Any information received will greatly assist the ongoing investigation, and will help bring closure to Caiden’s family. In lieu of flowers, our family is asking that you would consider donating to assist in covering Caiden’s funeral costs.
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