White Knoll High School Senior and Former Lexington County Fireman Lose Lives in Collision
On August 22, a tragic accident in Lexington, South Carolina claimed the lives of 17-year-old James Leonard Ely III, a senior at White Knoll High School, and 63-year-old Kevin Scott Collins, a former Lexington County fireman. The collision occurred as Ely, who was riding a motorcycle, collided with Collins on Kyzer Road around 10 p.m.
Details of the Collision
According to investigators, Ely was driving a motorcycle westbound on Kyzer Road when he collided with Collins, who was crossing the street after checking his mailbox. Collin’s neighbor, Kenny Miles, was devastated to hear the news about the accident. He noted that Collins was merely going to check his mail like any other day. Chris Harrington, another neighbor, echoed his sentiments, saying it’s unfortunate that their lives ended so tragically.
Investigations Ongoing
The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Lexington County Coroner are currently conducting investigations into the incident. Despite Ely wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, he succumbed to his injuries. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. A passenger who was riding the motorcycle with Ely was injured and taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Community Response
Shockwaves from the tragedy have been felt across the Lexington community, especially within White Knoll High School where Ely was a senior. In a statement, the school district revealed that they were focusing on supporting Ely’s family and the students affected by his loss. To this end, a grief crisis response team of school counselors and psychologists was immediately assembled and present on campus to provide necessary support.
The Lexington County School District has also partnered with Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential care coordination service, to provide mental health support options for students and their families during this trying time.
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