Jhockton Farrand Dalton, 16, of Mocksville, was driving to work Saturday afternoon when his 1979 Chevrolet Nova ran off the right side of U.S. 421 North in Winston-Salem.

According to a Winston-Salem Police Department report, Dalton’s car skidded down an embankment and crashed into several trees before coming to a stop. The accident occurred sometime between 4:45 and 6 p.m. before a passing motorist dialed 911 shortly after 6.

When officers arrived at the scene, the rising senior was dead. Dalton is survived by his parents, Thomas and Gloria Diane.

“I want the young people to learn from this, to get their life right,” Thomas Dalton said Tuesday morning. “We never know when we’re going to be gone from this earth.

“I’ve very proud of him. He was a Christian athlete. He had his life in order.”

Dalton excelled on the football field and wrestling mat but enjoyed his greatest success during the track season.

The 6-foot, 230-pound Dalton earned second place in the discus earlier this month at the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A state track and field championship.

Dalton took first in the discus at the Central Piedmont Conference meet and finished second in the regional before heading to Raleigh for the state meet with War Eagle track coach Devore Holman.

“He did his personal best, and after he finished second, his mama and daddy came down, and he gave them both a great big ol’ hug,” Holman said. “He was just grinning from ear to ear, and that picture right there is worth a thousand words.”

Dalton led the Davie football team into the second round of the football playoffs from his offensive line position. Head coach Doug Illing called the right guard the strongest player on the team, with a bench press of 375 pounds.

“He worked so hard to be the strongest kid on the team. He was one of the most committed kids we had,” Illing said. “He was not satisfied with being the second strongest.”

Illing sent film and transcripts of Dalton to several colleges this past season. The football staff felt confident the lineman could play at the next level.

Davie will honor Dalton next season by wearing his No. 68 on the team’s helmets.

“I told his mom and dad that he is still going to be part of our team,” Illing said. “We are going to wear his number on our helmets and signify that he’s still with us.”

In addition to his athletic achievements, Dalton took part in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Junior ROTC and worked with Special Olympics.

He was a member of New Jerusalem Holiness Church in Mocksville.

“Davie lost a real good football player, but worse than that, they lost a real good human being,” said Scott Young, the West Rowan head coach. Young coached Dalton in football and track in 1998 while Young was still at Davie. “His loss as a human being iseven worse than as an athlete. I love that boy.”