Larry Hardy, Dylan Akins, Kevin Blueford and CJ Spencer shortly after graduating seniors gave crowns to soon-to-be senior leaders. Said Spencer, “(Akins) crowned me. That’s the best memory.” / Courtesy Photo
BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
& TREVOR HORN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
updated 11:44 p.m. on July 12, 2013
The Inderkum High School community is mourning the loss of athlete and recent graduate Dylan Marshall Akins who died in an accident Friday morning.
Akins, 18, played varsity baseball three years for the Tigers as a pitcher and first baseman. He was also a football team captain and a two-year, two-way starter on the defensive and offensive line.
“We are truly saddened by this loss,” Inderkum athletic director Matt Hinton said. “He was a two-sport athlete for Inderkum for four years and came from a great family.”
Akins was named Tri-County Conference all-league as a junior and senior at offensive tackle. He graduated from Inderkum in May and planned to play football at Yuba College in the fall.
News of Akins’ death spread quickly through the Inderkum community on Friday.
“He was special,” head football coach Terry Stark said. “I loved the guy. He was the ultimate high school teammate – this is so tough.”
According to the California Highway Patrol, Akins was driving alone in a 2011 Dodge pickup five miles southeast of Williams when the accident occurred at about 11:23 a.m. on Friday, July 12.
Akins was headed northbound on Lone Star Road when the vehicle drifted to the right south of Ware Road, off of the roadway and into an irrigation ditch, CHP spokesman Officer Rafael Cervantez said. The truck collided with a dirt embankment, overturned and came to rest on its hood in the canal with approximately 5-feet of standing water, he said.
“(Akins) was extricated from the vehicle by emergency personnel and transported to the Colusa Regional Medical Center where he was declared deceased,” Cervantez said.
The collision remains under investigation, according to Cervantez. The cause of Akins’ death is pending an autopsy by the Colusa County Coroner.
Akins’ former classmates, teammates and family took to social media Friday posting photos, sharing stories and paying tribute to the young man well-known for his school spirit. His death, teammate CJ Spencer said, came as a “huge shock.”
In addition to his athletic prowess, Akins served on the District One Youth Advisory Committee and Parks Leadership Academy for Youth. Sacramento Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby remembered Akins, her son Nate’s long-time friend and teammate:
“Dylan was a wonderful friend, talented athlete and gifted student with a tremendous sense of humor,” Ashby said. “He has a loving family and will be missed by everyone who had the honor and privilege of knowing him.”
Past Inderkum PTSA president and Akins’ former coach Elena Quintero fondly recalled his younger days playing Little League with her son, Max, and high school spirit.
“He was a big sweetheart,” Quintero said. “He loved his school, loved his teammates, loved his friends, loved his family and loved his class – he was all about 2013.”
The Inderkum PTSA, students and their parents are planning a candlelight vigil in memory of Dylan Akins for 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14 at Inderkum High School, 2500 New Market Drive, in Natomas. Natomas Unified School District officials said chaplains will be on hand at the vigil.
[…] Akins died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on July 12. In lieu of flowers, Akins’ family has requested donations be made in his honor to the Dylan Akins Scholarship Fund. Stoll said the family also plans to fund raise in the future. […]