14-year-old killed in ATV accident in Neoga

NEOGA, Ill. (WCIA) – A 14-year-old Neoga boy died in an ATV accident Monday afternoon.

Coles County Deputy Coroner Greg Epperson confirmed to WCIA that Graydon Mendenhall was seriously injured in an accident on his family’s property around noon. After speeding around a curve, Mendenhall fell off the ATV and was struck down by the vehicle.

The teenager was taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Medical Center in Mattoon, where he was pronounced dead at 1:52 p.m.

Epperson added that the accident was witnessed by Mendenhall’s mother and stepfather, who had purchased the ATV the night before. He said Mendenhall had experience with ATVs, but was advised to take it slow with the new ATV because it was larger than what Mendenhall was used to, according to Epperson. He had been riding the ATV for about an hour before the accident.

Neoga Community Unit School District 3, where Mendenhall was a student, addressed the tragedy on social media, saying, “The loss of a student is our greatest fear and no one can fully prepare for it.”

“We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will do everything we can to assist you and your child if you need it,” school officials added. “Please continue to keep the family and our Neoga community in your thoughts and prayers.”

Officials said the district’s special education cooperative, EIASE, has a crisis team available to provide counseling and support to students in need following Mendenhall’s death. They will be in the elementary school library from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up to support Mendenhall’s family and pay for his funeral expenses. The fundraiser reached its initial goal of $10,000 by noon Tuesday.