Iola Student Killed in Apparent ATV Accident

By: Steve Fullhart - Email

Updated: Fri 6:47 PM, Nov 16, 2012

A 12-year-old Iola boy is dead after an apparent ATV accident.

According to the Grimes County Sheriff's Office, James Christopher Kay was found dead off of FM 244 by his older brother. Authorities believe the vehicle the Iola Junior High 7th grader was riding overturned onto him.

Kay's brother reportedly returned home with friends around 5:30 p.m. Thursday to find Kay. Their mother was at work, and their father was out of town.

Authorities say Kay normally returns home on a school bus around 4:00 p.m.

An autopsy has been ordered and will take place in Lockhart.

Counseling was offered at the school Thursday night for Iola students, and it continued Friday.

Donations for the Kay family are being accepted at the First National Bank of Anderson. It can be reached at (936) 825-5311 or by mail at P.O. Box 159, Anderson, TX 77830. Donations can be made out to the James Kay Memorial Fund.

Also, game towels honoring Kay will be available at the Iola football playoff game Saturday night in Groesbeck. Donations will be taken for the towels and given to the family.

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**Press Release Sent by Iola Independent School District**

Dear Iola Parents & Guardians:

We are saddened to share the news of the death of one of our junior high school students.
A tragic accident took the life of James Kay, a seventh grade student, on Thursday afternoon.

This will be a very difficult time for our community and especially, for our students and staff at Iola Independent School District. Please know that we are doing everything possible to care for our students during this challenging time. We will miss James and will keep his family in our prayers.

Teachers and counselors were prepared to share the news of our loss with students in their classrooms this morning. Additional grief counselors from surrounding districts were on campus today to assist our students and staff during this time of need. Information to assist you in helping your child through the grief process is on the reverse side of this letter.

We do ask that you please contact Lindsey Harris, Iola ISD counselor, at (936)394-2361 ext 110, if you feel your child is in need of additional counseling services. We do not yet have information regarding funeral arrangements for James, but will post information on our district website when it becomes available. If you have any questions at all or if we can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school. Please keep James’s family in your thoughts and prayers as they face this tragic loss.

Sincerely,

Douglas Devine
Superintendent

Texas Task Force 1 Demobilizing from Tornado Relief Efforts

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