A tragic accident occurred at a high school in Washington, claiming the life of a young student.
Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Ben Ferney reported that 16-year-old sophomore Brayden Bahme was participating in gym class when he sustained critical injuries which ultimately led to his death.
Fire officials said that Bahme was impaled in the eye. The school later clarified that he had collided with a goalpost while running, causing the injury.
Emergency responders found the unconscious student just before 2 pm on Thursday, April 27. He was rushed to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
On Monday, May 1, a touching candlelight vigil took place at Crunk’s Field in Cheney at 6 pm to celebrate Brayden’s life. Attendees wore blue clothing as a tribute to his love for fishing. The school urged participants to bring fishing-related items, which would be donated to a youth fishing organization in Brayden’s memory.
The school announced that any leftover funds from the GoFundMe page, which has amassed over $30,000, will be allocated to the youth fishing program, ensuring that Brayden’s passion and memory live on.
In an alarming trend, recent anomalous accidents on high school grounds have raised concerns among parents, educators, and school administrators.
A high school student in Pennsylvania was hospitalized after an accident in a wood shop class in October 2019. The student was using a table saw when he accidentally cut his hand, resulting in the amputation of several fingers.
In January 2020, a student at McKinney North High School in Texas was burned during a welding class.
In March 2020, a student at Waukegan High School in Illinois suffered severe burns when a chemistry experiment resulted in a chemical explosion.
More recently, in 2022, a 15-year-old high school football player in Bloomington, Minnesota was severely injured in a freak incident on the field during a tackle defense.