Sebastian Ebert, 16, was remembered by his school and church communities for his kindness, humor and involvement in music.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A 16-year-old boy died after falling from a skateboard while traveling downhill at Two Rivers Greenway on Nov. 3, according to Nashville police, who said detectives are investigating the death as accidental.
The teenager was identified by his family and community as Sebastian Ebert. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said its preliminary investigation found that the teen was traveling downhill at a high rate of speed and was not wearing a helmet when he fell and struck his head. He was taken to Skyline Medical Center, where he died.
Police said the incident happened at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Two Rivers Greenway. Authorities have released few additional details about the circumstances of the fall, and police have not announced findings suggesting another person was involved. The department described the investigation as continuing and the death as accidental based on the circumstances known so far.
Ebert was a junior at Wilson Central High School, according to his obituary and reports from his school community. He was part of the school’s culinary program. Principal Jennifer Ankney remembered him as a student whose character stood out because of the way he treated other people.
Ankney said Ebert approached others with kindness, humor and a gentle manner that helped people around him feel valued. She also remembered his warm smile and the positive presence he brought to the school. Her comments reflected the broader grief expressed by people who knew him through school and other parts of the community.
Ebert also had longstanding ties to Generation Chaners Church. The church said he had been part of its community since he was a baby, and church members said he played drums with the worship band at its Donelson campus. Pastor Barry Smith described Ebert as a calm and peaceful young person who was deeply loved by those around him.
Smith said the congregation was experiencing immense grief because its members were close to Ebert and his family. The church’s remembrance added a fuller picture of the teenager beyond the circumstances of his death, describing a young musician who had grown up within the congregation and remained actively involved in its worship community.
The police account remains preliminary. Detectives have said the available evidence indicates Ebert was riding downhill at high speed without a helmet before the fall, but authorities have not released a more detailed account of what caused him to lose control. No additional investigative findings had been announced as of Friday.
Ebert’s death prompted tributes from both his school and church communities as those who knew him remembered his kindness, humor and musical involvement. Nashville police continue to classify the Nov. 3 death as accidental while the investigation remains open.