‘A complete and utter loss’: Edgewood Schools mourning student killed after falling from moving vehicle

Download the free FOX19 NOW Weather App for iPhone

Download the free FOX19 NOW Weather App for Android

TRENTON, Ohio (WXIX) - Classes resumed for Edgewood students on the first day of the school year Tuesday under a cloud of tragedy following the weekend death of classmate Mason Young.

The 16-year-old was a member of the school’s varsity soccer team and would have been a junior this year.

He died early Saturday at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after falling from a moving vehicle he was riding on top of in Trenton, according to Trenton police.

Edgewood City Schools Superintendent Jeff Madden described the loss as an unimaginable blow to the district.

“It’s an unfortunate tragedy,” Madden said Tuesday morning. “It’s just a complete and utter loss right now.”

The incident remains under investigation.

It happened late Friday night, prompting Trenton police and fire crews to respond to the intersection of Dartmouth Street and Brampton Place following reports of a teenager falling while “riding on top of a vehicle,” police said in a news release.

Investigators with the Butler County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team (START) are assisting with the investigation.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been contributing factors in the crash, police say.

Once investigators have all the facts, including details from the hospital, coroner and crash reconstruction, and the crash report is complete, they will meet with the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office to decide what, if any, charges are filed, Police Chief Patrick Carr said Tuesday night.

Edgewood High School Principal Doug Geygan notified families of Mason’s death in a letter and said counseling was available all week.

“Our thoughts are with the Young family during this incredibly difficult time, and we ask that our community keep them close to your hearts as they grieve this profound loss.

“Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we ask that additional details not be shared or speculated upon.”

Moment of silence for Mason

To mark the start of the academic year and to honor Young, the high school held a school-wide moment of silence Tuesday morning.

“We had a moment of silence at the high school to reflect on the tragedy we are handling,” Madden said. “We do have grief counselors on hand at the high school. We have offered that support to our kids if they need it.”

District officials quickly mobilized grief resources over the weekend.

Members of the Edgewood soccer team gathered at the school Saturday to grieve their teammate, Madden said.

On Sunday, the school opened its doors to all students and staff seeking support.

“We have supported our kids and our kids’ families throughout it,” Madden said. “We are supporting the families affected, we are supporting Mason’s family and respecting their privacy.

“We will continue to work with the family to provide them any support they need.”

Counseling available

The high school’s Calm Room (Room 159) will remain open and fully staffed by counselors and crisis support teams all week, according to the principal’s letter to families.

Students may visit the Calm Room at any time during the school day to speak with a counselor, process their grief, or write condolence cards to Mason’s family.

School leaders are urging parents to monitor their children’s emotional well-being, noting that grief can manifest in varied ways, including anger, withdrawal, or difficulty concentrating.

Parents and students also can reach out directly to school counselors.

District officials say they are continuing to coordinate wth Mason’s family regarding potential memorial services and the release of further details, including any community fundraising initiatives.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.