SUFFIELD, Conn — A head-on crash involving a dirt bike killed a Suffield High School freshman Sunday afternoon, according to the town's police department.
Police and Suffield Public Schools identified the ninth grader who was riding the dirt bike as Carter Jones Monday evening.
At 5:35 p.m., Suffield's police and fire departments, along with the town's Volunteer Ambulance Association, responded to a report of a serious injury crash in the area of Copper Hill Road at Woods Hollow Road.
Investigators learned that two vehicles had been traveling along Copper Hill Road and approaching Woods Hollow Road. Police said a dirt bike was going south, and a sedan was going north when the two collided head-on in the southbound lane.
According to police, the crash happened in the Woods Hollow Road area.
The cause of the collision is currently unknown.
Copper Hill Road was reopened Sunday evening after an investigation at the scene of the crash, police said.
Matt Dunbar, superintendent of Suffield Public Schools, provided the following statement:
"We are heartbroken at the loss of Suffield High School ninth grader Carter Jones. He died in an accident Sunday evening. Carter loved the outdoors, was well-liked, and will be greatly missed. Above all, our thoughts are with his family and friends, especially those closest to him.
As we work to process this tragedy as a school community, we want everyone to be aware of services that are available for students and staff. Our school counselors, social workers, school psychologists and administrators at the high school and middle school have been meeting with students and staff to offer counseling. I am grateful for the efforts of these professionals.
Support services and counseling will be available for as long as our school community needs them. If you have any concerns, or feel that your child is in need of additional support at any of our four schools, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school principal.
The death of a student is one of the saddest things a school community can face. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and grief has no timeline. Suffield is a strong and caring community. Thank you for looking out for one another in this difficult time."
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to this page for updates.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com.
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