Putnam City High School Student Collapses While Running, Dies

By Adrianna Iwasinski, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Putnam City High School student collapsed while running Friday during a conditioning class.

Traquan Patton, 16, was a new student at Putnam City High School and was taking part in an after school off season conditioning class on Friday at Dolese Park when he collapsed. A person passing by the park found Patton lying on the track unconscious and called an ambulance.

Patton was rushed to the hospital. He died Saturday morning at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center.

Putnam City High School had a moment of silence at the start of the school day. Flags also fly at half staff, a somber tribute to honor Patton. He was starting his junior year at the school, but most of the students did not get to know him yet. His mom, a single mother, had just moved him and his siblings down from Washington D.C. six weeks ago to be closer to family.

Now their Putnam City Pirates family is doing what it can to help.

"We had people at the hospital with the family and then after that we've been providing meals and staying in contact," said Putnam City Schools spokesperson Steve Lindley.

The heat index that day was well over 105 degrees and the Medical Examiner has ruled the cause of death as hyperthermia.

Allison Currie and Carrie Woody are seasoned runners and walk and run the trails at Dolese Park often. They wonder why the kids were allowed to run here during the hottest part of the day.

"I think it is absolutely heartbreaking and I honestly have no idea how they can be running in that heat," said Currie.

"Running in the heat just shouldn't be done. I think the kids should either run in the morning or they could run in the evening, 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. at night, have the coaches come be with them but it's our responsibility as parents and as coaches and teachers to just have the kids not run during the heat of the day," said Woody.

NEWS 9 asked the district what it plans to do about it's off season conditioning class and other athletic activities in light of the extreme heat and this tragedy. A school district spokesperson said they are reviewing their policy and had a meeting set to discuss it.

The Putnam City Schools Foundation has helped establish a memorial fund to help with funeral costs for the family. Contributions may be dropped off at the high school or can be mailed to:

PCF Traquan Patton Memorial Fund
5401 N.W. 40th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73122