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After memorial, questions

Posted on August 21, 2008August 21, 2008 by Staff

Atlas Fraley was remembered last weekend in a memorial service. Photo courtesy Lisa Hazen.by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

CARRBORO — More than a week after Chapel Hill High School senior Atlas Fraley was found dead in his home, questions about the events surrounding the football player’s death remain.

Students, teachers, family members and friends bid a tearful farewell to Fraley on Saturday at a service at the Chapel Hill Bible Church. He was later buried at the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery.

Days after he was laid to rest, Fraley’s family members still need answers. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County and the Fraley family have all launched investigations into his death.

Fraley died Tuesday in his home. He called 911 at 1:45 p.m. and told responders his body hurt all over and he thought he needed fluids. According to Orange County Emergency Services, paramedics arrived at Fraley’s home on Fan Branch Lane at 1:53 p.m. and left at 2:16 p.m.

When his parents returned home around 6 p.m., they found their son dead.

County officials have not released information regarding whether or how paramedics treated Fraley. According to Orange County EMS Capt. Dinah Jeffries, the investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear when more information will be released.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Fraley’s body, but has not released a cause of death. Fraley had suffered from dehydration before, collapsing in his home about a year ago. His family was home then and called paramedics, who treated him with intravenous fluids.

Fraley, who was a lineman for the Tigers, participated in two scrimmages at Middle Creek High School in Cary earlier on Tuesday, but had to be removed from the game because of headaches.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools launched an investigation regarding Fraley’s death on Monday. According to Stephanie Knott, assistant superintendent for community relations for the school district, the district’s legal counsel is conducting the investigation.

In June, the school board approved a policy designed to prevent weather-related illness and injury for high school athletes. According to the policy, football coaches are required to monitor the hydration status of players using pre- and post-exercise body weights during the first three weeks of practice.

The policy also outlines how much water or sports drink athletes should drink before, during and after exercise.

Donald Strickland, attorney for the Fraley family, said the family is conducting their own investigation.

“Right now, we’re just investigating what happened,” Strickland said. “There’s not a real clear picture of what happened.”
What is obvious, however, is that Fraley will be missed by many.

“He was a remarkable young man,” Chapel Hill High School Principal Jackie Ellis said.

“He had such a presence in our school, a positive presence.”

Ellis said Fraley had a lot of friends and was well liked by many.

“He was just one of those kids,” she said.

According to Ellis, the school has brought in a crisis team to offer counseling for students and staff.

“I do anticipate us still needing our crisis team available on Monday when the students return,” she said. “Kids are obviously more resilient in many ways than we are as adults, but this is something they’ll never forget.”

A memorial service scheduled today (Thursday) at Chapel Hill High School has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

1 thought on “After memorial, questions”

  1. Elvisboy88 says:
    August 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    My guess is that the family’s lawyer will point out the totally irresponsible $1.8M underfunding of the OCEMS as a cause for the failure. They should sue the board and the board members individually.

    BOCC too busy fighting nuclear power plants and shilling for “schools” and the transfer tax to deal with real basic services.

    Sad, indeed.

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