Braylyn Knowles Killed in Grand Bay ATV Accident
16-year-old Pascagoula High School student trapped under overturned off-road vehicle
Braylyn Knowles, 16, of Pascagoula, Mississippi, was killed in an ATV accident during a weekend event in Grand Bay, Alabama, according to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
The off-road vehicle, carrying multiple juveniles, struck an embankment before the driver attempted to overcorrect. A tire then hit a light pole, causing the machine to flip and roll over, investigators said.
The teenager was trapped underneath it and died from his injuries.
Deputies noted there was no indication of racing at the time of the wreck.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Pascagoula Dugout Club organized a fundraiser to support the family.
The loss of a child in a recreational vehicle rollover leaves families heartbroken and searching for answers about how a weekend gathering turned fatal. National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "A fun weekend on the trails shouldn't end with a funeral because an adult-sized ATV rolled over. These machines are balanced for adults, so putting a child on one changes the physics and increases the risk of death."
Why did the ATV roll over after striking the embankment?
What liability factors exist for passenger injuries?
Alabama wrongful death statute
Under Ala. Code § 6-5-410, surviving family members of a person killed in a traffic collision may file a wrongful death action in Alabama. The state applies contributory negligence (one of only 4 states) when determining liability. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages under Alabama's wrongful death statute may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral and burial expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering. Alabama law designates specific parties — typically a surviving spouse, children, or parents — as eligible to bring a wrongful death action.