Arkansas family mourning loss of son killed in ATV accident
An Arkansas family is in mourning after a normal snow day activity ended in a tragic accident that took the life of their beloved 15-year-old son.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — What began as a typical snow day this week quickly turned into a nightmare for one Arkansas mother.
Chasidy Gales’ 15-year-old son, Carter Mills, was killed in an ATV accident while riding out in the snow earlier this week.
According to Gales, during the accident, another boy was also trapped under the vehicle but he survived.
“Once I got him halfway pulled out, I could see that my son was laying behind the four-wheeler,” Gales described.
Mills, a Marshall High School student, was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital where staff were unable to revive him.
“They flew him to Little Rock,” Gales said. “And they tried to give him medicine to start his heart, and it wouldn’t start.”
Gales explained how her son was the most kind-hearted kid, and since the accident, the stories have poured in from classmates and teachers who have shared how he always had a smile on his face.
Michael Holley, who taught an automotive technology class that Mills was a part of, was one of those teachers.
“He was able to joke and have fun with his friends,” Holley described. “But at the same time, whenever I was speaking to the class about something serious, he would listen and pay attention. I really appreciate that he was, in a way, a role model to the other students.”
Holley said they were close and both shared similar interests in cars and trucks. He even went so far as to say that Mills reminded him of himself at that age.
“I’m really going to miss him smiling when I joke with the class,” Holley said. “He would always look at me and grin. And I really appreciate that.”
Mills’ stepdad, Chancey Fuller, called him an amazing kid who was truly selfless.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve,” Fuller said. “And was always worried about everybody else but himself. And he literally never met a stranger, and just loved everybody.”
Gales said if she could share one message from this experience, it would be to spend every minute you can with your children because you never know.
At the same time, she takes comfort in believing that this isn’t goodbye.
“His two older sisters yesterday, we were talking. And they take comfort in knowing that he’s with God, and he’s not here. I think that was another big thing, that he’s not here in a hospital bed in pain but he’s okay,” she added.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Mills’ family with medical and funeral expenses. You can find the link by clicking here. You can also give to the family through Cash App at $AshleyMills2016, $addimarie054, or $ChanceyFuller.