The community of Hixson is grieving after two young friends were killed in separate motorcycle crashes just days apart, leaving family members, friends, and residents heartbroken by the tragic losses.

According to the Chattanooga Police Department, 20-year-old Dathan Thomas died in a motorcycle crash on Hixson Pike on Saturday. Earlier in the week, authorities confirmed that 19-year-old James Riley Hairsine was also killed in a separate motorcycle crash in Hixson.

Friends of both young men say the two were close friends, making the tragedy even more devastating for those who knew them. Loved ones shared that Dathan Thomas was reportedly returning home after visiting a memorial for Riley Hairsine when his fatal crash occurred.

Memorials now stand just miles apart, honoring the lives of two young men whose deaths have deeply affected the local community.

Friends described Riley Hairsine as someone who loved motorcycles and was always kind to others. Those close to Dathan Thomas remembered him as generous, supportive, and someone who was always willing to help friends in need.

Community members say the back-to-back tragedies have left an emotional void among the young men’s families and social circles as many struggle to process the sudden losses.

Data released by the Chattanooga Police Department shows there have been 23 motorcycle-involved crashes this year on Highway 153 and Hixson Pike combined, with one fatality reported on each roadway. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security also reported that Hamilton County has experienced 71 motorcycle-related crashes so far this year.

As loved ones continue mourning Dathan Thomas and James Riley Hairsine, tributes and memorials reflect the lasting impact both young men had on the people around them.