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WAMEGO, Kan. (Updated March 24, 2025) — A promising high school football player was killed early Sunday in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) crash near Wamego, prompting an outpouring of grief and a criminal investigation into the 18-year-old driver.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle rollover around 12:50 a.m. on rural roads near K-99. Three occupants were thrown from the UTV, which had lost control while attempting a sharp turn. The most seriously injured was Dylan Higgins, 17, a junior running back for Wamego High School. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It is with the heaviest hearts that we mourn the passing of one of our own, Dylan Higgins,” head football coach Weston Moody wrote on social media platform X. “Words can’t describe the emptiness we all feel. Higgi was a teammate, brother, son and friend. Our entire program is praying for his family. Fly high #3.”
The driver, Harry Costa, 18, also a Wamego student, was not injured. Sheriff Doug Adams confirmed that Costa was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving, pending further investigation. Authorities said toxicology results are pending, and they are reviewing whether speed or alcohol played a role. A third occupant, a 16-year-old girl whose name has not been released, suffered minor cuts and bruises but refused hospital transport.
The sheriff’s office announced Monday that deputies have obtained surveillance video from a nearby farm that may show the UTV speeding minutes before the crash. “We’re looking at everything — speed, impairment, whether seat belts were used,” Adams said in a statement. The UTV was a 2023 Polaris RZR, which can reach speeds of over 60 mph. Under Kansas law, drivers of UTVs must be at least 16 with a valid license, and passengers are required to wear seat belts if the vehicle is equipped with them.
Meanwhile, Wamego High School Principal Dr. Laura Chen said grief counselors will be on campus every day this week. “Dylan was a leader both on the field and in the classroom. This loss is devastating for our close-knit community,” she said. A candlelight vigil is planned for Tuesday evening at the school’s football stadium, organized by the student council and the Red Devil football team.
Dylan Higgins was known for his quiet determination and a bright smile that lit up the sideline. Teammates described him as the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. His jersey number, #3, has been draped on a memorial display outside the school. The family has asked for privacy but released a brief statement: “Dylan loved his community and his team. We ask that everyone hug their kids a little tighter tonight.”
The tragedy has reignited discussions about nighttime UTV use among teens. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, UTV-related deaths have risen 40% in the last five years among drivers aged 16–20, with many crashes occurring between midnight and 3 a.m. “These vehicles are not toys,” said Dr. Mark Tanner, a trauma surgeon and ATV/UTV safety
