In Neoga, Illinois, a tragic accident claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy named Graydon Mendenhall on Monday afternoon. Deputy Coroner Greg Epperson of Coles County confirmed that Mendenhall was severely injured in an ATV accident on his family's property around noon.
The accident occurred when Mendenhall turned a corner too quickly, causing him to fall off the ATV, which then landed on top of him.
Despite being rushed to Sarah Bush Lincoln Medical Center in Mattoon, Mendenhall was pronounced dead at 1:52 p.m. The accident was witnessed by his mother and stepfather, who had purchased the ATV the night before.
Although Mendenhall had prior experience riding ATVs, he was advised to take it easy on the new, larger vehicle. He had been riding for about an hour before the fatal accident occurred.
Neoga Community Unit School District 3, where Mendenhall was a student, expressed their condolences on social media. They acknowledged the deep impact of losing a student and pledged to support the community through this difficult time.
"The loss of a student is our biggest fear, and one that no one can fully prepare for," the school officials stated. "We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as you need. Please continue to keep the family and our Neoga community in your thoughts and prayers."
The district's special education cooperative, EIASE, has arranged for a crisis team to provide counseling and support to students. They will be available at the elementary school library on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
To support Mendenhall's family with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was launched and quickly met its initial goal of $10,000 by noon on Tuesday. The community's swift response highlights the collective grief and support for the family during this heartbreaking time.
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