Staff report and press release
news@wbcowqel.com
The Galion City School District is in mourning following the death of fourth grader Gage Berry on Saturday morning. Gage was a backseat passenger in a minivan driven by his father, 42-year-old Benjamin Berry, when the vehicle was struck by a CSX train at a crossing on County Road 32 in Washington Township in Morrow County.
Benjamin Berry was taken to Grant Medical Center with serious, non-life threatening injuries.
“I was shocked when I learned that Gage had passed away,” Superintendent Mark Stefanik said. “The loss of life is never easy to handle, and it’s especially difficult when that loss is a child’s life.”
Gage was a fourth grader at Galion Intermediate School and has siblings at the Galion Primary School.
“We are working with the Crawford County Trauma Team to provide grief counselors for Gage’s siblings, our students and staff at both the Primary School and Intermediate School,” Stefanik said. “We will do everything we can to support the Galion City School District family through this extremely difficult time.”
The Morrow County Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the accident that occurred at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday. The train was traveling west at an estimated speed of 40 miles per hour. The Patrol has said that visibility was not an issue at the time of the accident, but noted the crossing has no gates or lights.
“There was a lot of sadness,” Superintendent Mark Stefanik said about the death of Gage Berry. “The majority of the folks already knew.”
Despite the widespread knowledge of Gage’s death, Stefanik said the school made the announcement with the help of the Crawford County Trauma Team.
“They’re doing a fantastic job,” Stefanik said about members of the crisis team showing up in support. “They’re customizing their support efforts based on the reactions of the staff and students.”
Those support efforts come in the form of a group format or individualized support.
Stefanik said the Trauma Team has not only given students a chance to express themselves over the death of Gage but has also been available to the teachers and staff who had relationships with Gage.
“It’s a shock to the system,” Stefanik said. “Anytime you lose a child is a horrible thing. You’ve got to try to understand it and try to move forward. You’ve got to try to help the students transition back to a typical school life.”
Mid Ohio Gymnastics, where Gage had been a part of the gymnastics team, has set up a donation box in its gym to assist the Berry family. Checks made out to Brandi Berry can be sent to the gym at 2876 Harding Highway East, Marion, OH 43302.