A heartbreaking accident took the life of 13-year-old Dakota Tubbs in Centralia on Friday night, May 2.
Dakota was skateboarding along Harrison Avenue around 11:15 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle. Witnesses said he was on the road at the time of the collision.
Sadly, Dakota was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
Dakota was well-known in the local sports community. That same day, he had just finished playing football games for the Twin Cities Youth Football League (TCYFL), a team he loved.
He had recently joined the 7th-grade football team at Centralia Middle School and was proud to play every chance he got.
Family And Friends Mourn The Loss Of Dakota Tubbs
Dakota is survived by his loving parents, Kelley and Tyler, who, along with family and friends, are mourning the loss of a young life gone far too soon.
A GoFundMe set up by Dakota Tubbs’ family had raised $11,835 toward their $15,000 goal to help cover funeral expenses.
His aunt, Courtney Stewart, started the fundraiser to support the family during this heartbreaking time.
While nothing can ease the pain of losing Dakota, the donations are meant to help take some of the financial burden off his loved ones as they grieve.
Dakota’s mother took to Facebook to share her heartbreak, expressing her deep love and pain over the loss of her son.
She wrote that she loves Dakota Michael Tubbs and will never understand why he had to go.
She described him as a fantastic boy, son, and brother, and said her heart will ache for the rest of her life.
I love you Dakota Michael Tubbs, I will never understand why you had to leave us. You were such and amazing boy, son and brother. My heart will hurt for the rest of my life.
Kelley Tubbs
Calvin Singleton, a friend of Dakota’s family, shared how deeply the loss affected those close to him, especially his son Daniel, one of Dakota’s best friends.
He remembered Dakota as incredibly sweet, respectful, and always smiling.
Daniel, Dakota, and Logan were always together, and Daniel has found the loss difficult to process.
Calvin shared that things became even more emotional after other friends, Owen and Samuel, went home, giving Daniel time to fully feel the weight of what had happened.
On their way to dinner that day, they passed the accident site, where around 40 kids had gathered to remember Dakota and leave gifts in his honor.
He expressed how heartbreaking it is for children to experience this kind of loss at such a young age, and that the pain felt by Dakota’s family is unimaginable.
Calvin encouraged anyone who could help to do so in support of the grieving family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Dakota’s memorial service will be on Saturday, May 10th, at Calvary Chapel at 4 pm.
- His mother is originally from Ramona, California.
- His father, Tyler Tubbs, works at Boyer Towing.
