|
|
|
|
|
|
Boy, 11, killed as he tried to save siblings
Posted at: 10/01/2012 7:49 PM
| Updated at: 10/02/2012 5:47 PM
By: WNYT Staff
|
|
|
|
BALLSTON - Blue Barns Road, near the Ballston and Clifton Park town lines can be a busy stretch.
It's understandable that someone, even an 11-year-old, would do whatever he can to stop an occupied car from rolling into traffic.
That's what police say happened Monday afternoon at around 3:20.
11-year-old Lane Rowe was outside his mom's Dodge Caravan that was parked on their inclined driveway. His 12-year-old sister and his little brothers, a two-year-old and a four-year-old were in the car.
Lane's mom, Jennifer, had run inside the house to use the bathroom.
Lane was trying to get in the car. He had an appointment to get a physical at 3:30.
But the mini-van's sliding side door was locked. So, his sister, Luca, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned the key, hoping to unlock the door for her brother.
"And I couldn't turn it on, so I turned it the other way and it started rolling backwards and he was outside the car, running alongside the car, he was trying to turn the wheel and stuff," Luca said.
When that didn't work, the boy apparently got behind the vehicle, valiantly trying to stop it.
"He tripped and fell in the ditch," said the boy's maternal grandmother, Carolyn Bradley.
"He did die a hero. That was Lane. Lane was always there to help you if need be, he was there."
And with him gone so suddenly and tragically, there are lots of people in need, most notably, Lane's three brothers and sister.
"He kind of like saved my life and my two little brothers," said Luca.
The three children who were in the car were not hurt.
Investigators are still trying to figure out how the minivan began rolling downhill.
Counselors were on hand Tuesday at Lane’s school, O'Rourke Middle School, trying to help his 6th grade classmates come to terms with their grief.
WNYT welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the rules of conduct set forth in our Terms of Use. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Use.
