Family, Town Mourns 18-year-old's Death

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

CALUMET, Oklahoma - An 18-year-old never showed up for Christmas morning after his truck crashed just before midnight Christmas Eve near Calumet.

Police said Randy Ray Meade went off the road, crashed into a tree and his truck caught on fire. Family members said Meade died at the scene, and now their community is remembering the young man.

A memorial has been set up where the incident happened. The town of about 500 to 600 people are devastated by the loss, especially the town's fire chief.

Chief Meade was the first to get the call late last night, not knowing his only son was the victim.

Family members said Randy Ray Meade Junior was nicknamed Hot Rod. He just graduated from Calumet High, loved to be outdoors four-wheeling and hunting, he also volunteered at the fire department where his dad is the chief.

Close friends said ‘Hot Rod' will be sorely missed.

"We went to school together, hung out together, hunted together, went fishing together. We've done everything together that a couple of country kids would do together," Randy's best friend Daron White said.

Troopers are still investigating the cause of the accident. They think Randy may have fallen asleep at the wheel.