Abilene — The quiet of a Thursday night on Buffalo Gap Road was shattered when Kaydien Putman, a 24‑year‑old man from this city, died in a motorcycle crash that has left his family and friends reeling. The collision happened just before 10 p.m. on January 22 near the intersection with Bettes Lane, police say, and has sparked an ongoing investigation into how such a young life ended so suddenly.
Police reports show Putman was heading south on his 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle when he ran into a 2011 Mazda CX‑7 that was turning onto Buffalo Gap Road. The impact was violent. Putman was thrown from his bike and suffered fatal injuries. He was wearing a helmet, authorities confirmed, but the force of the crash was too great. He was pronounced dead right there at the scene.
Buffalo Gap Road is one of Abilene’s main thoroughfares, cutting through commercial and residential zones with a steady stream of traffic. Bettes Lane, where the crash occurred, connects several apartment complexes and businesses, meaning drivers of all kinds use the route day and night. It’s also a road where vehicles move faster than on quieter neighborhood streets, a detail local police say may have mattered in what happened.
Abilene police have not released the name of the Mazda’s driver, and no charges or citations have been filed yet. Investigators say speed is believed to have been a contributing factor, though they have not said whether it was the motorcycle or the other vehicle that was traveling too fast. Officers on the scene took time to document the crash, check damage, collect evidence, and piece together what led up to the impact.
Responders blocked portions of the road while they worked, and neighbors reported the usual buzz of a busy southside street turning into a grim traffic scene. Friends and family were notified of Putman’s death soon after. Beyond the official statements, loved ones have quietly begun honoring him, remembering him as a good man and someone who cared deeply for those around him.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was set up to support Putman’s young family through the tough days ahead. Organizers described him as a devoted husband and father, a boss who cared about his employees, and someone who left an impression of kindness on the people he worked with. Donations are being collected to help his wife and daughter manage funeral costs and daily needs in this time of shock and loss.
Police say the investigation into the crash will continue as they sift through witness statements, vehicle positions, roadway conditions, and any available footage from nearby cameras. No timetable has been set for when they might release a full report or whether any further action will be taken. For now, a community mourns a young life cut short on a road that hums with daily traffic and difficult questions.
