Schools mourn death of 5-year-old student

The death of a five-year-old Evans girl left a pall over a Columbia County school for the second time this month.

Morgan Danielle Beverly was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday in front of her family's home in the 600 block of Citation Court, said Columbia County Assistant Coroner Vernon Collins.

By Thursday morning, five school psychologists from throughout the county pulled together to form a crisis team at Evans Elementary school - where Morgan was in kindergarten.

"When teachers were unable to answer questions or felt uncomfortable answering questions for children, these psychologists were available to assists us," Evans Elementary School Principal Amy Wright said.

The accident happened about 6 p.m. as Robert Brent Beverly, 36, went outside the family home to move his Chevrolet utility truck.

"He noticed that she was following him and he asked her to step back and wait on him," Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

However, the girl apparently did not step back far enough and was hit by the bed of the truck - which extended out on the side of the cab by more than a foot. The child was then struck by the rear tires of the truck.

Capt. Morris said there were no charges in the accident.

Mr. Collins said the child's body was sent to the crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy - a standard procedure in accidental deaths.

"It was horrible," he said. "The family was just tore all to pieces. They were just beside themselves."

Evans Elementary PTO President Scott Workman said the organization canceled a meeting in the wake of the accident.

"Everybody is just heartbroken. Our sympathies are with the family, realizing that could happen to anybody," he said.

Morgan's death was the second of a Columbia County elementary school pupil in two weeks. On Sept. 13, North Harlem Elementary School third- grader Andrew Hawkinberry, 8, was killed instantly in a car crash on Interstate 20 in Warren County as the family was driving to his brother's football game.

The Monday after Andrew's death, Principal Lisa Soloff said Andrew's 13 classmates wrote cards to him to say goodby and made friendship pins with his name and a heart, which they wore in memory of him.