Boy dies in ATV accident
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Jeremy Crow Jr.

A nine-year-old boy died in an ATV accident in nearby Newton County Friday, June 22.

Jeremy Todd Crow Jr., known to most as Bubba or J.T., was visiting his grandparents' camphouse near the lake.

Grandfather Canter Mattox said the kids were just out enjoying the evening when the Yamaha Rhino hit a sand patch and turned over in a ditch, pinning the boy underneath.

"All the kids were wearing seat belts but not helmets," Mattox said. "You just don't think this could happen. But I want to caution people that it can."

Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden Ellis Powell said he was one of the first to arrive. The grandparents rushed the child to Burkeville, where they were met by the Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department. First responders started toward Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital and were met midway by an ambulance. Powell followed the ambulance to the emergency room, where the boy was pronounced dead.

Powell said in his three years as Newton County game warden, he has seen too many accidents like this.

"We deal with this- kids and adults- all the time. It's against the law and no one under 16 should be driving an ATV. They're not physically able and the vehicles aren't designed for such small torsos and legs. When we see children driving them, we will enforce the law."

Rayburn-area Constable Gerald McAdams told The Jasper Newsboy just last week, "I'm not out here to write tickets or arrest folks, but just because we don't have the traffic doesn't mean you can ride anywhere you want... safety should be number one."

Mattox said he was grateful to Powell and the first responders who helped Friday night, and hoped that others will hear of this incident and think twice about safety.

Funeral services were held June 26 at Beaty Funeral Home in Winnsboro.

Survivors include his parents, Jeremy Sr. and Heidi Donnell-Capehart Crow of Winnsboro; sister Madison Crow and brother Kenny Crow; grandparents Canter and Gabrielle Mattox of Winnsboro, James and Deborah Donnell of Houston, and Sherrie and Greg Crow of Ennis; greatgrandparents Bartine Donnell and Geraldine Gresset of Ennis and Margaret Clover of Lufkin.