HIXSON, Tenn. — Two young men, 20-year-old Dathan Thomas and 19-year-old James Riley Hairsine, died in separate motorcycle crashes in Hixson last week.
The Chattanooga Police Department confirmed Thomas died on Hixson Pike on Saturday, after reportedly returning from visiting Hairsine’s memorial. Hairsine was killed in a crash days earlier.
Friends identified Thomas as a close friend of Hairsine, noting their shared passion for motorcycles. Two memorials have been set up in their honor, located just three miles apart.
Joseph Stafford, a friend of Hairsine, described the scene of the crash upon his arrival. “It was tragic how we all found out, but we came together,” said Kaine Black, a friend of Thomas.
Authorities reported a combined total of 23 motorcycle-related crashes on Highway 153 and Hixson Pike in 2023, with one fatality recorded on each roadway.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has noted 71 motorcycle-involved crashes in Hamilton County this year, resulting in three fatalities.