MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. -- The Virginia high school student who died during a Friday night football game died as a result of blunt force trauma to his head, Mecklenburg County Public Schools confirmed Thursday.
"Mecklenburg County Public Schools will release a report upon completion of our investigation, which includes the autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office," Mecklenburg's Director of Student Support Services Heather Tuck said.
Park View High School junior Jamond Salley was injured hitting another player just before halftime during last Friday's game against Brunswick High School in Brunswick County.
"He was tackling somebody and they went head to head," friend Antoine Williams said.
While Jamond received medical attention on the sidelines, witnesses said he fell unconscious and started having seizures. Salley was given CPR, but died on the way to the hospital.
"Jamond was a strong student in both academics and as an athlete," Mecklenburg County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. James Thornton said in a statement. "Members of his family, friends, and teachers have all shared one common trait of Jamond, he was very respectful. He was a student with a big heart and a smile that would instantly capture your attention."
Since his death, classmates at Park View High School have honored Salley's memory by decorating his locker and hanging memorial posters throughout the school. The Park View High School Homecoming football game scheduled for this Friday, October 24 against Surry County High School has been rescheduled for Monday, October 27 at 5 p.m.
"We will honor Jamond at the football game Monday night with a special presentation from the football team, coaches, and the band," Park View High School principal Paige Kindley said in a statement. "The football team will wear a #55 decal as part of their uniform to keep a piece of Jamond with them throughout the game."
Homecoming and Senior night will be Friday, Oct. 31 against Southampton 7 p.m.
Pediatrician calls for Exams after Head Injuries
Central Virginia Pediatrician Dr. Eric Freeman said a thorough physical exam is critical after any head injury.
"I think it doesn't really matter if you have a pre-existing condition or not. I think in any term of a head injury, one should be concerned about the mechanism of head injury and that certain conditions and neurological complications may arise after that event,” said Freeman with Old Dominion Pediatrics.
Which is why Freeman urges parents with kids playing contact sports to pay close attention to anything out of the ordinary.
"Anytime you have a head injury where there's a concern of loss of consciousness or loss of awareness. Anytime where children start to have significant changes in vision of vomiting after an acute head injury or anytime where they're mental status changes. They can't say their name. They can't say where they live,” Freeman said.
Freeman said that those symptoms can show up right away or sometimes take days or even weeks.
