Halifax County High School mourns the death of baseball pitcher

WSLS News Staff and Danville Register & Bee
Published: April 3, 2008

Updated 04:53 p.m.

Comments below about Tyler Hunt’s life from an interview the Danville Register & Bee with Halifax County High School teacher Buddy Wilborn:

Buddy Wilborn, a teacher at Halifax County High School, said Hunt pitched the first five innings of the game. Wilborn described Hunt as a well-liked young man who loved to play baseball.

“It has been a tragedy,“ Wilborn said Thursday afternoon. “The kids have felt it.“

Wilborn said Hunt’s parents were at the game watching their son. He didn’t get the win because the game went 11 innings. He said Hunt performed well on the mound and had to be feeling good about his start. He was a control pitcher who fooled hitter with his ability to keep them off balance.

“He was an exceptional kid. A straight A student and a very polite man,“ Wilborn said.

He said Halifax coaches visited with the family earlier in the day. He said the players are a tight-knit group who have played together since middle school.

“We all pray for the family that they will get through this,“ he said.

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Hunt pitched his first game as starter last night.

A 16-year-old Halifax County High School student was killed this morning on his way to school.

Tyler Wayne Hunt, was pulling out of his driveway a little before 8:00 a.m., when his 1990 Chevrolet Silverado pick up was t-boned by a tractor-trailer hauling logs, said Sgt. Dave Cooper, of the Virginia State Police.

The accident happened on U.S. 501 North about 4/10 of a mile north of Route 610.

Hunt was making a left turn out of the drive way to head south on 501, Cooper said. The 1997 trator-trailer, driven by George W. Osborne, 44, of Chase City, was heading north.

“For some reason, he (Hunt) didn’t see the tractor-trailer,“ Cooper said.

The load of logs was being hauled for H&M Logging of South Boston.

Cooper said Hunt was killed at the scene. No charges are expected to be filed. Trooper D.J. Cline in investigating the accident.

Hunt was a pitcher on the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team.

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Accident cleared.  Road back open.

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Read the news release from VDOT below

An accident this morning on U.S. 501 North in Halifax County has resulted in a detour for motorists.
The accident occurred on L. P. Bailey Highway (U.S. 501) approximately .5 miles south of Route 613, Bagwell Drive.  Currently, all traffic is being detoured off U.S. 501 via Route 610, Woodbourne Road. 

Motorists should use caution and be alert to changes in traffic pattern. 

No additional information regarding the incident is available.