Community mourns Bluffton student killed in Christmas parade accident
Heartbreak could be felt across Beaufort County Monday, two days after a 5-year-old was killed in a Bluffton Christmas parade accident involving a float.
Dozens of students sought help from Beaufort County School District’s crisis team, and residents took to social media to find ways to help the family of Ameer Frazier, the Bluffton child who was killed.
Ameer, who attended M.C. Riley Elementary School, was identified by Beaufort County deputy coroner Debbie Youmans on Sunday. He was a member of the Bluffton Bulldogs football team.
“He had a smile that could light up a room,” said Carletha Frazier Singleton, his aunt, on Sunday. “He was always a happy little boy.”
The accident happened Saturday in the Red Cedar Elementary School parking lot, the ending point of the parade where all the floats and vehicles disbanded, Bluffton Police Department spokesman Capt. Joe Babkiewicz said over the weekend.
Police haven’t provided details about the accident, and the incident continues to be investigated, Babkiewicz said. Criminal charges are not anticipated, Babkiewicz said.
The district’s crisis team was present at eight schools Monday: M.C. Riley Elementary School and Early Childhood Center, Red Cedar Elementary, Bluffton Elementary, River Ridge Academy, Bluffton Middle School, Okatie Elementary and Bluffton High School. They saw dozens of grieving students, district spokesman Jim Foster said Monday.
The crisis team will remain at the M.C. Riley campus Tuesday, Foster said Monday.
“When we lose one of our students, it’s a deeply felt and personal loss,” District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a statement. “Every teacher, every administrator, every school staff member. Each one of us is affected, and today we’re praying for Ameer and his family.”
How to help
The Beaufort County community immediately started looking for ways to help the mourning family, according to social media posts.
In just a few hours, a meal train set up for the family was completely booked through early January.
Several Bluffton schools have organized a fundraiser allowing students to wear a jersey and jeans to school Tuesday, in exchange for a donation that will be sent to Ameer’s family:
M.C. Riley Elementary School and Early Childhood Center
Bluffton Elementary
River Ridge Academy
Okatie Elementary
Bluffton High School
H.E. McCracken Middle School
May River High School
Pritchardville Elementary
Monetary donations to the family can be made at any area Suntrust Bank by making a deposit in the Ameer Frazier donation account or online via paypal.me/AmeerFrazier, Singleton said Monday on Facebook.
Christmas gift donations are being accepted for Frazier’s three sisters ages 9, 14 and 15. They can be taken to Jamison Consultants, 1536 Fording Island Road, Suite 101, on Hilton Head Island; or both Keller Williams Realty locations at 8 Lafayette Place, Suite 203 on Hilton Head Island and 36 William Pope Drive, Suite 203, Okatie.
Singleton said Monday night that the family is setting up a prayer vigil.
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Community mourns Bluffton student killed in Christmas parade accident."