Tragedy struck the Cheney High School community in Washington state when a 16 year old sophomore, Brayden Bahme, was involved in a fatal incident during his physical education class. Witnesses reported that he was taking part in a running exercise when he was suddenly impaled through the eye by a goal post. First responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, however, despite their efforts, Brayden succumbed to his injuries. The Cheney Fire Chief later reported that the injury was not survivable.
The school district superintendent, Ben Ferney, released a statement thanking those who had worked to render aid and offered their support and counseling to the grieving community. Brayden was deeply loved by his friends and classmates, demonstrated by the hundreds of people who attended a candlelight vigil in his honor. Many donated fishing gear to the event and wrote messages of farewell on a pontoon boat.
In memory of Brayden, his family has created a GoFundMe account to raise money for his funeral expenses and for a youth fishing program that has been established in his name. This goal was far exceeded, having already tripled its original amount of $10,000.