A tragic incident occurred in Georgia, where a 7-year-old boy lost his life after falling from a vehicle, unbeknownst to the driver, who was a relative of the child and unaware that he was holding on.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, Bleckley County Sheriff Daniel Cape confirmed that a tragic accident occurred at around 6:20 p.m. local time the previous evening. “Regrettably, this incident led to the tragic loss of a young life,” he expressed in a statement on Facebook.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly express my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and ask that each of you reading this do the same,” Cape said. “As a community, this is a time to come together, mourn and support the family, not just today, but in the coming weeks and months, as this is not a burden to try to carry alone.”
The Georgia State Patrol was called to the scene, and although Cape withheld the victim’s name, his aunt, Alexius Woodfaulk, confirmed his identity as Mitchell Holiday through a GoFundMe page established to collect donations for his funeral expenses.
The boy’s aunt announced that every contribution would be directed to Pascal Memorial Funeral Home.
A captivating image captured the child beaming at the lens, outfitted in football attire — fully equipped with padding and a helmet, featuring a teddy bear on his shirt.
Cynthia Byrd, Mitchell’s mother, shared her thoughts with 13 WMAZ on Monday, Nov. 11, following a heartfelt balloon release dedicated to him. The heartbroken parent recounted the tragic events of the accident.
“They said that he was standing on the back of the truck and his papa didn’t even know he was on the truck, so once he found out, he was devastated too,” Byrd told the Cochran news station.
The grandfather of the victim was unaware that Mitchell was riding on the back of his SUV until he drove a short distance and made the shocking discovery.
Bleckley County Primary School, the institution Mitchell attended, expressed their heartfelt condolences online, honoring the young boy as a “beautiful child.”
“We are heartbroken to share that we lost a beloved member of our school community. Our hearts go out to the family, friends and loved ones affected by this profound loss,” the school’s statement began.
Counselors will be accessible to provide support for any student or staff member requiring assistance during this period.
Sheriff Cape stated, “At this time, it is not anticipated that any charges will be brought forward.”