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Chelvin Webb
Former Watonga resident Chelvin Webb, 24, died Sunday in a two-vehicle crash involving in Kay County near Braman, Oklahoma.
Both Webb and a semitruck were traveling northbound on 1-35 when Webb lost control of his vehicle and hit a bridge railing, according to a report by trooper Snyder of the state patrol.
Webb’s vehicle continued to spin before coming to a stop in the roadway. The semitruck was unable to stop and struck Webb’s vehicle, the report stated.
Both vehicles were driving too fast in the snowy and slick conditions, according to the report. The drivers of both vehicles were wearing seatbelts, and the airbag in Webb’s car deployed.
Webb attended school in Watonga for a few periods throughout his life and was a recurring presence in the town.
He attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa where he played basketball before moving over to Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas.
While at MCC, Webb continued to play basketball until he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Webb would later go on to decide on becoming a coach and became an assistant coach at MCC.
In a previous story in the Republican, Webb was asked what had drawn him to coaching.
“My grandmother has a lot of sons and grandsons. She understood [basketball] kept me grounded and out of trouble,” Webb said. “I knew then that when I put the ball down I could give back through something I am passionate about. It’s kind of like a ministry. You get a calling to get through to these kids, reach these kids, wherever they are middle school, high school, college.”
Throughout Sunday and Monday, people took to Webb’s Facebook page to show their respects for Webb. Words such as hard-working, determined, impactful, and many more were used to describe him.
According to the posts people made about Webb, he seemed to bring positive energy wherever he went and MCC professor Dave Cupery thought no different.
“Today is a sad day for the MCC community. The loss of Chelvin Webb deeply impacts us all. For me personally, I’ll miss the energy and smile that he brought in class, in the CC, on the court, and to our campus,” Cupery said. “I don’t have words to express the sorrow I feel or the comfort I want to extend to others. May God meet us in our time of need.”