Jamison Beck : “Community mourns 4-year-old with autism”

A tight-knit community in Florence, Kentucky, is grappling with the heartbreaking loss of four-year-old Jamison Beck, who tragically passed away after being struck by a car in the early hours of Sunday morning. The young boy had left his residence while his family was asleep, leading to the devastating incident that has left the entire neighbourhood in shock.

The incident occurred at 12:59 a.m. on Sunday when Boone County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a crash on the Weaver Road overpass along I-75. A driver travelling westbound struck Jamison, who had wandered onto the roadway from the right shoulder. Despite the efforts of medical professionals at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Jamison succumbed to his injuries the following day.

The driver involved in the accident was uninjured, according to officials. It was reported that she had slowed down her vehicle to around 30 mph after noticing another vehicle flashing its headlights in the eastbound lane. Tragically, she did not see Jamison enter the roadway due to poor lighting conditions.

Authorities revealed that Jamison, who was autistic and nonverbal, had left his residence located in a nearby apartment complex on Mission Lane while his family was asleep. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that neither speed nor alcohol/drug impairment played a role in the tragic incident.

Boone County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Philip Ridgell, explained that a reverse 911 system was utilized to track down Jamison’s parents swiftly. “That prompted a quick response from the child’s mother. She then reached out to us, and we were able to make that connection pretty quickly,” Ridgell stated.

In a touching tribute to Jamison, a balloon release ceremony was held at a daycare centre on Tuesday, allowing the community to come together and remember the young boy whose life was cut short in such a tragic manner.