James Dylan Burkett turned 15 years old on March 6, 2026. He loved to fish, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with friends and his girlfriend. Dylan, as family and friends called him, also loved riding his ATV. What he didn’t love, according to his dad, was wearing a helmet. The pair often butted heads over head protection because Dylan felt it inhibited him from hearing his music through his headphones. On March 8, Dylan took one last rebellious ride without his helmet and was in a fatal crash. One that didn’t have to happen.
Dylan and his dad had a huge fight just before the accident.
James Burkett told WXYZ that he “got on him real big and bad” prior to the accident because he wanted Dylan to wear a helmet. The two had a pretty big argument, but Burkett wanted to smooth things over with his son.
“He got mad at me, got into an argument. A few minutes later, I went in there and told him ‘son, the only reason I tell you this is because I love you and I don’t want you to get hurt,'” Burkett recalled.
Burkett took a nap, and Dylan left the house.
According to his father, Dylan took off for a ride not long after the argument, when he laid down for a nap. Dylan was driving his ATV on 6 Mile Road and Kinloch Street in Redford Township, Michigan, when a driver rear-ended him, WXYZ reported.
Burkett said he rushed to the scene, and when he saw Dylan, it devastated him. “I love him, man. I’ll always love him. And this ain’t real. I mean, I feel like I’m gonna wake up in that chair any minute, you know, and he’s gonna be right there and everybody is going to want to go ride,” Burkett told WXYZ.
Dylan drove his ATV illegally the day of the crash.
According to WXYZ, it’s illegal in Michigan to drive an ATV on roads, streets, or highways. Drivers can cross the street at 15 years old, but only under the direct supervision of an adult. Dylan did not have anyone supervising him the day he died.
Family created a GoFundMe to help with Dylan’s final expenses.
A relative wrote that the family feels heartbroken following Dylan’s death. “Dylan was a bright light in our lives, and his sudden passing has left us facing unimaginable grief. We want to honor his memory with a proper funeral and give him the farewell he deserves, surrounded by the love of family and friends,” a post reads. The family has raised more than $11,000 so far.
Burkett told WXYZ that this is a very hard time for him, but he’s relying on his faith to get him through.
“I know life can be cruel, man, and I know the Bible says that God won’t put on you more than you can bear. I’m putting that to the test,” the grieving father said.
Helmets are a must, no matter what. It’s always so sad when a young life ends in a way that is 100% preventable.
