Boy, 11, killed after go-kart overturns into pond and traps him underwater as family pay heartbreaking tribute

AN 11-year-old boy has been killed in a freak crash when his go-kart flipped and trapped him underwater. Parker Mitchell was driving the kart with his sister Teagan, 8, in upstate New York when the horror crash happened. Parker Mitchell, 11, was killed in a go-kart crash, while his sister Teagan, 8, survived Credit: Tracey Mitchell/Facebook The preteen’s family remembered his ‘remarkable ability to make people feel welcome’ Credit: GoFundMe The pair’s cart rolled over into a nearby pond and pinned Parker underwater. Paramedics pulled the boy out of the pond and rushed him into Strong Memorial Hospital, where he died just days before he was due to start middle school. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Teagan was able to escape the wreck and was treated at the scene before being reunited with her family. Parker, from Greece, New York, was a promising athlete who played youth football and baseball. He had a “remarkable ability to make people feel welcome,” according to his obituary. His family remembered him as having “a curious spirit and a wonderful sense of adventure,” saying that he loved spending time with friends and family. The obituary continues: “He truly excelled at everything he did. “He had a good heart, and his kindness left an impression on the people fortunate enough to meet him. Most read in The Sun Parker was a promising athlete and part of his school’s football team Credit: WHAM His classmates paid a touching tribute to their late friend Credit: WHAM Parker was a Buffalo Bills fan who loved to play video games as well as explore the outdoors. “His life was short, but his impact will last forever,” his obituary said. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Parker’s family through the tragedy, raising more than $66,000 (£49k) so far. It comes just a month after a young mum-to-be was killed in a freak go-karting accident. Baylee Johnson, 24, died after her ponytail got trapped in a wheel and yanked her neck back. She was 15 weeks pregnant with her first child when the horror accident took place at a go-karting track in Sumter, South Carolina on August 23. Baylee and her unborn child, who she had named Johnny, died eight days later in hospital. Coroner Robbie Baker told The State that Baylee’s ponytail had got stuck in the kart’s sprocket, a toothed wheel that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. Her neck hyper-extended, stopping her from breathing. She was pulled unconscious from the go-kart and had no pulse, Baker said. Paramedics were able to revive Baylee and the young mum-to-be was rushed to hospital. Heartbreakingly, Baylee’s tragic accident was how many of her relatives found out that she was pregnant. An obituary described Baylee as a “beloved daughter” who was “so funny, spontaneous and completely carefree”. Her family said they’re taking “comfort” in the fact that Baylee and Johnny “never had to say goodbye to one another.” Comment now