HARRISTOWN, March. -- A young boy is dead and a community in mourning after a tragic farming accident Monday in east-central Marchenay.
Cameron Stivens, age 8, was helping his grandfather, Earl Stivens, work in the family's alfalfa fields Monday afternoon when Cameron was somehow ran over by a tractor.
It's unclear exactly what happened, and investigators with the Marchenay Agriculture Safety Commission are investigating, as are local police.
LaGundy County Sheriff Corby Elmo told local media it appears Earl Stivens hopped off the tractor, which was running, to check his baling mechanism. While the tractor was briefly left unattended, somehow it became re-engaged and ran over Cameron, who was standing in the grass in front of the tractor.
"At this point, it appears to be just a terrible accident," Sheriff Elmo said. "We are treating this as an accident, not as a crime scene. Mr. Stivens is devastated and feels awful bad about what happened."
A medevac helicopter was dispatched to the open field where the accident occurred, and Cameron was rushed to Marchenay Children's Hospital in Madagen where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Earl Stivens, age 76, was also taken to the hospital for chest pains and shock.
"This is a well-known family in the local community, they've been farming for generations, and they're just good people. Cameron was an amazing kid, and we would ask people to keep this family in your prayers right now," said Elmo.
Gina Kepsley, a family member, posted a statement from the family on Facebook.
"Cameron was the light of our family, he was a wonderful big brother, a sweet son and a great kid with so much potential. We are so heart-broken and we ask that you pray for Cameron's parents and for Earl also, who feels so guilty and so terrible for what happened," Kepsley said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created by Kepsley to help pay for funeral costs and medical expenses for Cameron's family.
Cameron Stivens, age 8, was helping his grandfather, Earl Stivens, work in the family's alfalfa fields Monday afternoon when Cameron was somehow ran over by a tractor.
It's unclear exactly what happened, and investigators with the Marchenay Agriculture Safety Commission are investigating, as are local police.
LaGundy County Sheriff Corby Elmo told local media it appears Earl Stivens hopped off the tractor, which was running, to check his baling mechanism. While the tractor was briefly left unattended, somehow it became re-engaged and ran over Cameron, who was standing in the grass in front of the tractor.
"At this point, it appears to be just a terrible accident," Sheriff Elmo said. "We are treating this as an accident, not as a crime scene. Mr. Stivens is devastated and feels awful bad about what happened."
A medevac helicopter was dispatched to the open field where the accident occurred, and Cameron was rushed to Marchenay Children's Hospital in Madagen where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Earl Stivens, age 76, was also taken to the hospital for chest pains and shock.
"This is a well-known family in the local community, they've been farming for generations, and they're just good people. Cameron was an amazing kid, and we would ask people to keep this family in your prayers right now," said Elmo.
Gina Kepsley, a family member, posted a statement from the family on Facebook.
"Cameron was the light of our family, he was a wonderful big brother, a sweet son and a great kid with so much potential. We are so heart-broken and we ask that you pray for Cameron's parents and for Earl also, who feels so guilty and so terrible for what happened," Kepsley said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created by Kepsley to help pay for funeral costs and medical expenses for Cameron's family.
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