Long Island Teen Killed in Football Training Accident

It’s a story that has made national news and sparked debate over the training equipment and exercises commonly used during high school football practices. A popular student-athlete has died after taking part in a pre-season conditioning drill in August at a Long Island high school.

The 16-year-old boy died after being struck on the head by a log he and several of his teammates were carrying during a training exercise. The accident occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. during a Thursday practice session at Sachem East High School. The drill was part of a strength and conditioning camp in which many of the school’s football players were participating.

In the drill, players carry a log over their heads as part of a team-building exercise. However, the log slipped and struck the boy in the head. The boy, who played wide receiver and defensive back for the team, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The log is roughly the diameter of a utility pole and 10 feet long. Typically, five or six students use it at once. It is meant to be challenging even for those who lift weights regularly.

Families may file wrongful death lawsuits against schools

If a student is killed in an accident at a school and there is some element of negligence involved, the parents or guardians of that student may file a wrongful death claim against the school or district to recover compensation for their losses. It’s not yet clear if the family in this recent case will file a civil claim against the school district.

To learn more about how to proceed after someone else’s negligence causes the death of a loved one, meet with an experienced Long Island wrongful death attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.