Katron Walker, a 17-year-old junior at Richland High School, died after a single-vehicle crash early Oct. 12 in Burleson, according to information from local authorities and Birdville Independent School District. Public safety personnel responded at about 5:16 a.m. to the 2100 block of Highway 174. The vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch and struck a concrete structure, sustaining significant damage. First responders had to free the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Birdville ISD identified the driver as Walker, who had recently moved from Memphis and transferred to Richland High School in North Richland Hills. He played on the school’s junior varsity football team. Walker’s mother, Randi Hill, said he had been proud of his performance in a game the previous Thursday, when he played quarterback after primarily playing wide receiver. She said he was also an honor student and was determined to succeed in academics as well as sports. His family said Walker was returning home from a weekend trip with friends when the crash occurred. Hill described it as an accident and said she did not blame anyone. Richland principal Nathan Frymark said Walker had made a positive impact on the JV team despite being new to the school and district this year. Teammates decorated his locker in his memory. District and campus crisis counselors are supporting Walker’s family and teammates. Counselors will also be available to students in his classes when they return to campus Wednesday, and the district says support will remain available to any student who needs it.