June 19, 2018
BRAZOS COUNTY, Tex. (KBTX)- Emergency crews responded Tuesday afternoon to the scene of a fatal ATV accident in south Brazos County.
It happened around 3:30 p.m. in a wooded area along Millican Creek Trail near FM 2154 between College Station and Millican.
On Wednesday morning, the Brazos County Sheriff's Office identified the man who died as 21-year-old Donald Harless.
Harless was driving the ATV at the time of the accident, according to investigators. Two others on the vehicle were also injured in the crash.
“It looks like they were trying to navigate through a turn and it (the ATV) overturned,” said Nathan Dennis, a spokesperson for the Brazos County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators believe the rate of speed at which they were traveling made the turn difficult to maneuver, forcing the vehicle to roll over and land on top of the victim.
We're told the Harless may not have been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
So many young lives are lost by ATV crashes like this one. They drink and speed and drive and they do not understand that their life will be taken away unless they obey the rules of operation of these vehicles. Too late for this young fellow.
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Milano community mourns loss of 21-year-old involved in fatal ATV accident
By Amber Treybig |
June 20, 2018
MILANO, Tex. (KBTX)-
On Wednesday, the Milano community came together to support the friends and family of Blake Harless. The 21-year-old was killed in an ATV accident in South Brazos County on Tuesday.
The vigil was held at Milano High School's cafeteria where classmates, family and friends of Harless wore maroon ribbons, held candles and shared their favorite memories of Blake.
"He was so loyal to all of his friends and you know having graduated two years ago there's a lot of people that we don't see anymore but I still saw Blake and he still kept up with me and that's just one thing I will never forget was how loyal he was to his friends and how much he loved us," said Cole Sheppard, a classmate of Harless.
The room was filled with pictures along with Blake's high school football and basketball jerseys. Friends like Christian Trimes said Harless was always helping out his classmates and was known for his contagious laugh and smile.
"He always was giving or helping, I mean as small as the school is, some of us are from out of town but this was our meeting place, and during times like this we always have each other's backs," said Trimes.
"You could always make a joke with him, he never had any enemies, he was friends with everybody, like I said he was a great guy," said Sheppard.
Robert Westbrook, Milano ISD's Superintendent, said he has known Blake since he was a freshman.
"I saw Blake at all the different activities and sporting events that were going on as well as everyday operations at the school, we are a small district so every time I would come by and walk the halls of course I would see Blake, and he was a fine young man and will be missed," said Westbrook.
Westbrook said this was the second student the community has lost within this year.
"It's sad to lose anybody, but particularly when you lose somebody so young and our community always rallies around those in need and that is what is going on right now, we love one another," said Westbrook.
After people shared their favorite memories of Blake and prayed together, Blake's Mother, Jennifer Mueck, thanked everyone for coming out and helping keep their spirits up during the tough times.
The family is asking for help with the funeral expenses.
If you would like to donate, donations can be made at any Citizenship National Bank location. They ask to make any checks out to the Barn Church in Milano and in the memo line write Blake Harless funeral.