Investigators say an 18-year-old Colleyville Heritage High School student died during a thrill-seeking stunt on a Loop 820 exit ramp Thursday night.
Travis Hutton, 18, was with three friends when he opened the passenger-side door to "car surf" on the Davis Boulevard exit in North Richland Hills just before 8 p.m.
"He was hanging out of the car holding on," police investigator Keith Bauman said. "He lost his grip or was unable to hold on. He fell from the moving vehicle. He subsequently was struck by the moving vehicle."
Hutton died at the scene.
"It's tragic enough when somebody loses their life by something that's foreseen," Bauman said. "But when an issue like this happens, where it basically a senseless death, it really is a tragedy for the community."
Police said they hope his death will discourage others from the dangerous activity.
"Hopefully, this will be a warning to others," Bauman said.
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Police said this is the first instance of "car surfing" they've seen in the area.
Hutton was just months away from graduating from Colleyville High Heritage High School. His grandmother said that when you raise teenagers, you always hope they come home each night.
Grief counselors were at Colleyville Heritage High School all day to give support to those who knew Hutton.
North Richland Hills police said said no criminal charges will be filed as of right now.
