Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Boy, 10, dies when soccer goal crashes onto him

Elias was playing goalkeeper for Winchester United under-11 team

Video
Soccer death shocks, saddens community
May 9: A bizarre accident kills a 10-year-old Virginia boy on a soccer field. WRC-TV's Shannon Bream has the story.

WINCHESTER, Va. - A young soccer player died during a scrimmage Monday evening in Winchester, Va.

Investigators said 10-year-old Hayden Barnes Ellias was playing goalkeeper for the Winchester United under-11 team. They said he was positioned in the goal on a Millbrook High School soccer field. Coaches said action was taking place on the other side of the field when they heard a loud crash.

Police said the goal toppled over on Ellias, killing him. They are investigating how the incident happened.

"At this point we're unsure of exactly what happened," said Steve Edwards of Frederick County Public Schools. "Frederick County Sheriff's Department is doing an investigation. The only thing we can say with any certainty is that it was a terrible, tragic accident."

School officials said the independent soccer league -- a partnership between Frederick County Public Schools and the park system -- used school equipment.

Officials could not specifically identify which goal was involved in the accident.

"The goals are portable, the goals that they were using last night, and they were owned by the Frederick County schools, but in terms of how they were secured and so on and so forth, I don't have any information on that," Edwards said.

A crisis team of counselors has been dispatched to the victim's school, Bass-Hoover Elementary, where Principal Gay Yowell issued this statement: "All of us in the Bass-Hoover family are saddened by the loss of one of our students. He was a valued member of our school family and will be missed."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Pekingese Palacegarden Malachy trots in ring at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York
Reuters
Pekingese favored to be top dog

Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.

NY cable dispute blacks out Knicks, 4 NHL teams

NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''

Image:
AP
Six new breeds will join show at Westminster

Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.

Slide show
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Slideshow
Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers
  Who's hot on Twitter?
Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers!

NBCSports.com

Special feature
"American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity" Met Gala - Arrivals
When athletes and celebs get together
A look at the many links between sports and Hollywood stars.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: To match Special Report CAMPAIGN/ROMNEY-OLYMPICS
  Presidential candidates and sports
How do President Obama and his Republican rivals stack up when it comes to their sports backgrounds?