Florida Boy, 5, Fatally Injured When Digital Whiteboard Falls at School
A five-year-old student died after being struck by a large video display board that fell at an elementary school, prompting the district to inspect similar equipment.
A 5-year-old boy has died after a digital whiteboard fell on him at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay, Florida. Emergency responders were called to the school around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and the child, identified as Bellamy Dawkins-Morris, succumbed to his injuries later at a local hospital.
His great-aunt, Melissa Rodriguez, told The Post that the family is devastated and seeking answers. "This is a tragedy that should never happen to Bellamy. Our family is grieving horribly," she said. "They should’ve been paying attention to him better."
The Brevard County School District confirmed the incident in a statement to parents. "We are saddened by the heartbreaking news of a tragic accident that occurred yesterday at Riviera Elementary School," the district said. "A five-year-old student was seriously injured when a large video display (Promethean) board, which was mounted on the wall, fell on the student. Despite immediate emergency medical care and continued efforts by medical personnel, the student tragically passed away."
The district stated that Promethean boards are installed by a licensed third-party vendor in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. In response to the tragedy, the school district is now rushing to inspect all similar digital display boards across its schools.
"We understand that this tragedy may raise questions and concerns among families and staff about similar equipment in our schools," the district added.
Rodriguez described Bellamy as a happy child who was loved by his family. "He was such a happy little boy, always smiling, running around making you laugh with the things that he did. He is missed horribly. We want justice for Bellamy," she said. The family is reportedly considering legal action and seeking counsel.
