Marquette U Student Payton Claybaugh ID’d As Pedestrian In Sunday Milwaukee Fatal Vehicle Strike

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI. (THECOUNT) — Payton Claybaugh, a student in the prestigious Pre-Dental Scholars program at Marquette University, has been identified as the pedestrian fatally struck by a vehicle on Sunday in Milwaukee County.

Claybaugh, 22, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run vehicle in Milwaukee early Sunday.

According to reports, Claybaugh was on-foot near a vehicle on the Marquette Interchange near 16th street, when he was fatally struck by a vehicle around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle apparently then fled the scene.

Payton’s father, Smiles by Design Dr. Bret Claybaugh, died suddenly in November of 2020. Payton was following in his footsteps.

Payton was pronounced dead at the scene of blunt force trauma injuries.

In a letter to Marquette University Students, President Dr. Michael Lovell wrote:

Dear Marquette community,

With a heavy heart, I write to share sad news from our student family. Payton Claybaugh, a 2022 cum laude graduate of Marquette’s College of Health Sciences and a D1 student in our School of Dentistry, died unexpectedly early this morning after being hit by a car while walking on the Marquette Interchange. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department is investigating his death.

A native of Hortonville, Wisconsin, Payton was a member of Marquette’s prestigious Pre-Dental Scholars Program. Those who knew him well said Payton was an outstanding student and an even better person. He was extremely bright, a great friend to all, and had a strong faith that was evident in how he lived his life and treated others.

We grieve with Payton’s family and friends, especially those whose lives he touched while here on campus. In this time of overwhelming sadness, I know that together as a community we will comfort one another and pay tribute to Payton’s life and memory. Arrangements are being made for a campus memorial service. Further details will be forthcoming.

Counseling services and pastoral support are available on campus for all faculty, staff and students. Members of the university’s Counseling Center and Campus Ministry are available to provide support services for coping with grief and loss, and the Marquette Employee Assistance Program is available for all employees and members of their households.

University leadership and Mission and Ministry staff are also providing support and every available resource to Payton’s family.

On this Feast Day of St. Ignatius, usually a time of celebration on campus, we remember Payton and his family, and rely on the love, resilience and grace of our faith and our community. Please continue to care for each other and reach out to one another during this difficult time. May God bless you and the entire Marquette community.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael R. Lovell
President
Marquette University

The cause of the deadly incident remains under investigation.

Geo quick facts: Milwaukee County is located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 947,735 and was estimated to be 945,726 in 2019 – Wikipedia.