Area high school football player killed crossing Oak Ridge Highway

Nov. 17--A 15-year-old high school football player died Monday after he was struck by a car while trying to cross Oak Ridge Highway, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Connor Miles Slay, who attended Grace Christian Academy, was killed in the 9:26 p.m. incident near the intersection with Hackworth Road, according to a report filed by Highway Patrol Trooper John Capps.

Miles' mother, Kathryn Slay, about 9 a.m. Tuesday tweeted a message about her son's death.

"Last night we lost our perfectly imperfect son @WRSlayer. Our pain right now is raw & deep & wide. Miles is an amazing person. #weloveu," stated the tweet.

Miles, a sophomore, transferred to Grace Christian midseason after beginning the school year as a member of Catholic High School's football team. He hoped to play for the Rams next season.

Calls to Grace Christian administrators were not immediately returned.

Miles was trying to cross the westbound lane of Oak Ridge Highway when he was hit by a 2002 Nissan Maxima. Oak Ridge Highway is reduced to two lanes near Hackworth Road. The speed limit in that section of highway is 50 mph, the trooper noted.

Capps said Byron J. Duncan, 34, of Knoxville was driving the westbound Maxima when the impact occurred. The crash occurred within a mile of the residence in the 8300 block of Oak Ridge Highway listed by Duncan as his home.

Duncan was not charged in Miles' death, but the trooper cited him for driving on a suspended license, violation of the state registration law and failure to show proof of financial responsibility (no insurance), according to Capps' report.

Duncan was using a seat belt and was not injured in the crash. While Capps' report makes no mention of substance abuse by Duncan, authorities took blood samples from him to test for alcohol or drugs. That testing is mandated by state law in any fatal crash.

While Duncan was not charged in connection with Miles' death, he was booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility. Duncan had an outstanding warrant out of Morgan County alleging violation of probation because of a drug charge.

Authorities were holding Duncan in the jail Tuesday without a bond while awaiting transportation to Morgan County.

PrepXtra editor Chris Thomas contributed to this story.

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