A heartbreaking crash in Ohio has left two families grieving — including the loved ones of a teenage athlete whose life was just getting started.
Authorities say a 17-year-old soccer player and a 53-year-old woman were both killed in a violent head-on collision late at night on March 13.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2019 Tesla Model 3 was traveling south on State Route 741 around 10 p.m. when it suddenly crossed the center line and slammed into a 2020 GMC Terrain.
The impact was devastating.
Both vehicles veered off opposite sides of the road, and both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The teen driver has been identified as Dylan Sougstad, of Cincinnati. The other driver was 53-year-old Chastity Smith, of Trenton.
Dylan had just been heading home from something he loved — the first game of his spring club soccer season — when the tragedy happened.
A junior at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Dylan was remembered by his school as a bright light gone too soon.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic passing of CHCA student, Dylan Sougstad,” the school said in a statement. “We grieve alongside his family, friends, and all who loved him.”
His family is now searching for answers.
Dylan’s mother, Lori Taylor, is urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward, hoping to better understand what led to the fatal collision.
“It would be just so great if we didn’t have to wait as long as we’re going to for the information that we’re eventually going to get,” she said.
Those who knew Dylan say he was much more than an athlete.
Nicknamed “Dilly-Wop” and “Dill Pickle,” he was described as “a beacon of energy and love” who touched countless lives. Loved ones say he was deeply faithful, a natural leader, and someone who stood by his friends no matter what.
“He was one of the most authentic people you could ever meet,” his obituary reads, noting he had dreams of becoming a lawyer or joining the family business.
His father, Steve Sougstad, said he’s been overwhelmed hearing from other teens about how Dylan showed up for them in difficult moments.
“As a father of a teenage boy, you’re always worried… but he wasn’t like that. He was a good kid,” he said.
Now, those closest to Dylan are working to carry on his legacy.
Loved ones have launched The Dylan Sougstad Memorial Fund with a goal of raising $15,000 to create the LUCA Legacy Scholarship — an award focused not on grades or sports, but on character, compassion, and authenticity.
More than $12,000 has already been raised through a GoFundMe to help the family with funeral costs and unexpected expenses.
