JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Lackawanna County community is coping with tragedy on Saturday. They are mourning the death of a Spring Brook Township boy killed in an ATV crash.
Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland stated that a 14-year-old boy was killed in a fatal ATV accident shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Friday
The coroner stated that the juvenile was operating the ATV-type vehicle when he collided with terrain and was ejected from the vehicle.
While it is still unclear exactly how the crash occurred, the community is devastated.
"I'm scared that more kids are not going to make it to high school," North Pocono High School Junior Brennan Huber said.
Huber is talking about the boy killed Friday evening after an ATV crash on private property. It happened in Jefferson Township just off Stevens Road.
Huber is a junior at North Pocono High School. He was at North Pocono High School's graduation ceremony when he received messages about the fatal crash. That's when he opened his phone and tuned into the local emergency scanner.
"I was listening to them, they had a life flight called, and I guess they canceled the life flight," Huber continued.
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This is the second fatal crash this year in the North Pocono School District.
In February, 18-year-old senior Noah Rinker lost his life when his vehicle rolled over on Route 435 in Covington Township.
"With Noah Rinker, they had support groups set up at the high school, and they had therapy sessions for the family and the friends," Huber explained.
Another tragedy happened two years ago. 17-year-old Kaden Rabender was killed in a car crash in Spring Brook Township.
With summer break in full swing, Huber is worried for his fellow students.
"With Kadan up on 307, I'm more worried about, like, with some of these kids on ATVs driving recklessly, getting in cars, same thing happening to Kadan, and the same thing could happen to anybody," Huber added.
Huber says local kids have been taking to social media to rev their ATVs and dirt bikes as a way to mourn the loss of the latest victim.
"They're all wearing yellow hard hats, because his 'Bitmoji' had a yellow hard hat," Huber said.
On Sunday, the North Pocono School District released a statement on Facebook following the incident:
It is with deep sadness that the district shares the heartbreaking news of the loss of one of our middle school students. The passing of a young life is a tragedy that can affect an entire school community, and our thoughts are with the student’s family and all who loved him during this incredibly difficult time. Grief can be overwhelming and may impact each of us in different ways.
In response, the school district will be offering grief support services and community resource referrals to students and families who need them.
The school district added in the statement, "On behalf of the entire North Pocono family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to all who are grieving. Please support one another as we navigate this loss together."
State police are still investigating the fatal crash. It's being treated as an accidental death.
The boy's name is being withheld at this time.
