The Frink Middle School cheerleading team at the 2019 Lenoir County Fair. Bud Hardy / Neuse News

The family of a Frink Middle School student mourns the loss of their daughter after an ATV incident on Saturday. The incident is currently being investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol according to a source with the Wyse Fork Volunteer Fire & Rescue.  

“The sudden and tragic loss of Allie Palmer, a young and spirited student at E.B. Frink Middle School, saddens us deeply,” Superintendent Brent Williams said in a released statement.

“We mourn the passing of any member of the LCPS family, but no loss is felt more sharply than the death of one of our students. On behalf of everyone with Lenoir County Public Schools, I offer our heartfelt sympathy to Allie's family and her many friends in this difficult time.”

LCPS Public Information Officer Patrick Holmes added, “LCPS will have additional counselors and social workers at Frink on Monday and as long as necessary to help students and staff through this trying time.”

This tragedy is the second death Frink Middle School has had in the last few months. Casey Lewis, a second-year guidance counselor and head volleyball coach, died in a November car accident.  

According to Motoshark.com, the annual total number of accidents and injuries resulting from ATV use went up from 10,000 cases in 1982 to 150,000 in the year 2017. Fatalities have also gone up from 29 in 1982 to over 11,000 in 2017.

North Lenoir High School posted this on their Facebook page on Sunday evening, “One of our very own Catherine Palmer, lost her younger sister Allie yesterday. Allie was a 7th grader at Frink Middle and future HAWK cheerleader. To honor her memory, her family would like everyone to wear purple tomorrow. Prayers for this sweet family and especially our Catherine.”

Publisher’s Note: The opening paragraph has been modified slightly to more accurately reflect the statement from Wyse Fork Volunteer Fire & Rescue.