Memorial ride held for teen killed in hit and run accident
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It's been almost four months and no arrest in the death of Kaiden Estling. The teenager was killed while riding his moped after a hit and run. Police say it happened on June 28th on Highway 150, just two miles south of Fayette.
The 14-year-old died at the scene. Authorities have been looking for the driver of the other vehicle ever since. On two wheels, or four wheels. People at the memorial wanted to make sure Estling isn't forgotten.
His mom, April Estling is still grieving. "It’s hard, she said. “Every day is a struggle. Every little thing reminds me of him.”
She calls Kaiden her best friend. She visits the site of the accident every week. She said, “I cry, pray, talk to Kaiden, watch the roads, watch the cars and just try to find out how this even happened."
Police are trying to figure that out too. The Fayette County Sheriff tells TV-9 that they are still waiting on forensic investigators to finish reviewing some evidence. Meanwhile detectives continue following up on leads.
This ride is raising money to add to the reward fund for information that leads to an arrest. It's also raising awareness for motorcycles and moped safety.
"People just need to watch where they're going,” said April. “It's really not that hard, put the phones, down, don't drive impaired. You need to just look."
Kaiden's friend Shawn Murphy remembers Kaiden as a kid who wasn't afraid to speak up.
"If I would ever get picked on or bullied he would be the first person to take care of it and he'd just be looking out for me, said Murphy.
April hopes whoever committed the crime will fess up. "I don't know how they can keep going every day for the last 15 weeks knowing that they killed a 14 year old boy and left him on the side of the road with not help,” April said. “They shouldn't have left the scene of the accident. Just turn yourself in, admit to what you did. Kaiden didn't ask for this."