Kamiakin Baseball Team, School, Stunned by Death of Student

Whitman County officials say an 18-year-old Kamiakin senior student and baseball player died Friday evening after being pinned underneath a heavy ATV.

Aric "Cooper" Ellision was apparently driving slowly down a hillside, where he had gone to find a cellphone signal while recreating with his family Friday evening. The accident occurred near the tiny town of Hay, WA, which is just about halfway between Colfax and Pullman on the Pullman-Moscow highway.

Ellision was descending the hill when the ATV apparently tipped over, pinning him underneath. The Whitman County coroner said he died from what was called positional asphyxiation. He was apparently not wearing the seatbelt in the ATV and was ejected when it rolled. It came to a stop on top of him.

Counselors were available at Kamiakin for students and teachers to meet with. Ellision was a member of the basketball and baseball teams.