It was in August 2014 that Fayette County resident Ryan Hayes died after a car accident on Hilo Road. Family and friends erected a small memorial at the site. But the sentimental items included in the memorial have been stolen and Ryan’s father, Chris, is asking that they be returned.
Ryan, age 24, and a 2008 graduate of Whitewater High School, was fatally injured Aug. 17, 2014 in the car accident on Hilo Road southeast of Fayetteville.
“The people who live there ran out to try to help when the accident happened,” said Chris, adding that the Hilo Road family was fine with having the memorial placed in their front yard. “The family noticed that everything was missing on Feb. 2. I spoke with them and they said they did not know who took the items. I called Fayette County and they told me they did not remove the items.”
Chris said the memorial, with small stones serving as its base, was erected by Ryan’s family and friends in his honor.
“One of his motorcycle helmets was there with a small notebook inside for people to write personal notes to him. There were crosses and rosaries and other personal affections at the site,” Chris explained. “Things that you could never place a value on.”
Chris said many people brought items to the memorial. The little memorial had lights installed around it to light up the area at night. It included Ryan’s helmet and a cross made by his friends with his dog’s leash wrapped around it.
“That’s where he died after the crash,” Chris said. “You could sit there and pray and talk to him.”
And there were other things of sentimental value included at the site, placed there by his family, his girlfriend and his friends. A sampling of the items included two necklaces, a rosary, little Christmas trees with lights, a glass cross, a prayer coin and Atlanta Braves flags.
“I don’t know what (kind of) person could do that,” Chris said of the items in the memorial that were taken. The only things remaining are the small stones on which the sentimental items were placed.
Christopher said his family would like to have the stolen items returned with no questions asked.
Contact information for Chris Hayes is 678-849-6292 or chrishhayes@bellsouth.net.
Below, these are the before (top) and after (bottom) photos of a memorial to Ryan Hayes who lost his life in a car accident on Hilo Road in August 2014. Items in the roadside memorial established by family and friends were stolen in early February and Hayes’ family is asking that they be returned. Photo/Submitted.
