KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Keystone Heights High football and basketball athlete Colton R. Tibbetts, 23, was tragically killed Wednesday, March 25 in a single car crash in Melrose, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

Tibbetts, who graduated in 2021 from Keystone Heights, was a dual sport athlete starring in football and basketball. Tibbetts was recently promoted to a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Rescue Engineer in November 2025.
At a candlelight vigil held Saturday at Keystone Beach, friends spoke of Tibbetts fondly.

"I met Colton through football about 15 years ago. We were very good buddies,” said childhood friend Layton Murphy. “Colton was someone who had extreme integrity. There wasn’t a lazy bone in his body. He was a great person. He loved Jesus. He loved his family and he was a great friend.” 

Tibbetts was following the footsteps of his father, JFRD Lt. Brian Tibbetts. Tibbetts's mother is Judy Tibbetts. Tibbetts was a Melrose firefighter after high school and was hired by JFRD in July 2022. His promotion to Rescue Engineer at age 22 was considered a huge tribute to his hard work and dedication to his craft.
Another childhood friend, Lawson Edenfield, spoke on that as he stood at the vigil wearing Tibbett's hoodie.

“He was my best friend. I knew a side of him no one else got to know because we were just that close,” said Edenfield, who also touched on Tibbitts being a dedicated student with a path to engineer laid out.

As a football running back and safety for the Indians, Tibbetts was part of a hard-running backfield that produced seasons of 6-3 and 7-3 in his junior and senior season and was a prelude to an outstanding 10-2 region playoff finish in 2021 for many of his teammates. Tibbetts rushed for 661 yards as a senior running back with an excellent 7.4 yards per carry average with 11 touchdowns. Tibbetts also was a ball hawk on defense with seasons of three and four interceptions along with 47 and 34 tackles.

On the basketball court, Tibbetts was an athletic ballhandler and shooting forward on a team that finished 11-14.

On Sunday, March 29, at the Community Church in downtown Keystone Heights, Tibbetts was laid to rest following a beautiful service with a proper send off for such a cherished soul. Even though rain was threatening, the sun was hiding and the sky was making for quite the dreary afternoon, people came out in droves to pay their respects one last time. With lines of visitors down the sidewalks and around the church, the overflow area was opened to accommodate everyone. Jacksonville, Clay County and Melrose Fire Departments all had a solid presence.

As Tibbett's casket was escorted by JFRD to family and friends lining the courtyard, a full 21-gun salute was carried out and bagpipes played "Amazing Grace," washing over the gathering like a warm blanket.

After the American flag was carried to his family, Tibbetts' helmet was carried out while "final call" echoed from dispatch with three rings of a bell.
Six pallbearers delivered Tibbetts to his awaiting hears and he left surrounded by a sea of people that loved him dearly.