A Kentucky high school football player died Thursday after he was crushed by a chute used to help offensive lineman stay low, the Kentucky New Era reported.
Jay’Von Quarles, 17, died of blunt force trauma to the head after helping his team set up for football practice at Hopkinsville High School.
Deputy Coroner Zach Lamb identified the boy as Jay’Von Quarles and said the initial investigation revealed he died as a result of blunt force trauma to his head. Quarles’ body has been sent to Madisonville for an autopsy.
A spokeswoman for Christian County Public Schools said Quarles was injured before a football practice at the middle school, and grief counselors were at the school speaking with students who might have witnessed the accident.
The equipment that fell on Quarles was a football chute, a large metal frame designed to teach linemen to stay low at the line of scrimmage during drills. According to emergency radio traffic, it was estimated to weigh at least a few hundred pounds.
Quarles would have been a senior running back for Hopkinsville this season.