Craig — A 19-year-old Moffat County High School graduate, beloved by many in Craig, died Monday afternoon in a head-on collision near Boulder.

Clayton Moon is remembered by his friends, teachers and peers as funny, hard-working, mature beyond his years and able to bring a smile to anybody’s face.

“He was so helpful to everybody, at his age, at 19 years old, he was so willing and so helpful and never really complained; he was an awesome grandson,” said his grandmother, Teresa Moon, of Vernal, Utah. “He loved his family.”

The accident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday. Moon was driving eastbound on Colorado Highway 52 in Niwot when his 2013 Chevrolet Cruze drifted into the westbound lane and collided with a 2006 Dodge pickup, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis.

Both Moon and the driver of the pickup, 51-year-old Raymond Bass, of Milliken, were taken to Boulder Community Health’s Foothills Hospital, where Moon was pronounced dead. Bass remains at the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, Lewis said.

It does not appear that drugs, alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the crash, he added. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.

Those who knew and loved him are in shock and remember Moon for his exceptionally caring nature.

“I knew the kid since he was in seventh grade,” said MCHS teacher and baseball coach Justin Folley.

Moon served as manager of MCHS’ baseball team his senior year.

“He ended up being more than just a manager for us,” Folley said. “Guys would get frustrated or down on themselves during the game, and he always had a way of bringing them back up. He kept morale in the dugout really high.”

The 2015 MCHS graduate had moved to Denver to complete a degree in heating, ventilation and air conditioning from Redstone College and was working at Meyers Heating and Air Conditioning in Boulder.

“He was a pretty amazing kid; he worked really hard and did a really good in school,” said Tanya Ferguson, as she fought back tears. She and her children were close with Moon. “The job he had in Boulder, he was getting raises and getting promotions, he was just a really amazing kid.”

Contact Lauren Blair at 970-875-1795 or lblair@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @LaurenBNews.