OLDHAM COUNTY, Ky. — One year after a tragic death, while the family of an Oldham County high schooler waits for justice, they're keeping his spirit alive through helping others.
In December 2022, Ayden Altman, a 17-year-old senior at Oldham County High School, and a friend crashed on I-71, near La Grange, family said, before a white box truck hit Altman, taking his life.
The driver of that truck then drove off. To this day, the family has no answers as to who killed Aydan.
"I'm still sitting where I was sitting a year ago," Altman's mother, Melissa Thornsberry, said. "I'm blessed. And I got to be his mother. I'm blessed that I had him and got to love him, share him with everyone."
"Of course, you remember that phone call, that text," Trevor Jarrell, Altman's Uncle, said. "It seemed like it just took forever to get down there (to the scene). That memory, I still have, I still think about it, but I try not to dwell."
The family is now trying to turn that grief into good.
Jarrell, who described Altman as "the jack of all trades but master of none," said the high schooler was looking to enroll in Jefferson County Technical College's welding program before his death.
"[Ayden] picked up welding in school and we just wanted him to follow it," Jarrell said. "I would take him to work with me on the forklift tire company. He just enjoyed working on things, you know, getting dirty."
In Ayden's honor, the family has started "The Ayden Finley Altman Welding Dream" scholarship to fund tuition costs for several JCTC students.
"Right now, [the scholarship is] just open to Oldham County kids," Jarrell said.
"We're going to open it up to surrounding counties next year, so we'll be able to help you know, Jefferson, Trimble, Shelby, Henry Carrollton [counties]."
"I want to make a difference in other people's lives, other young adults," Thornsberry said. "To be able to better themselves longer in life because trade schools definitely have fallen short in the last few years."
Both Thornsberry and Jarrell, who are siblings, believe Altman would look fondly on what they're doing in his honor.
"He would think it's so cool that we've not forgotten him [and] we're not forgetting him. And we're trying to keep his name going," Thornsberry said. "We just looked at this in the most positive way that we can."
"He'd be laughing about it. He, he'd love it. You know?" Jarrell said. "He was the light, the funny kid, the jokester, but he had a great heart. You know, a big one. So, yeah, I think I think that's making him proud."
If you're interested in learning more about the scholarship, or interested in donating, you can do so here.
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