Child dead after accident in Melrose

MELROSE — An 11-year-old boy died Monday following a trash-dumping accident Sunday afternoon.

Camden Stevens, 11, attempted to jump from a trailer, but lost his footing and fell under the trailer tires, according to a news release from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office.

The boy was transported by ambulance to Plains Regional Medical Center, then flown to a hospital in Lubbock. He died about 1:30 a.m. Monday.

According to the news release:

Sheriff deputies responded to the Melrose dump station at Fifth and Avenue B following a report of an accident involving a child.

The investigation determined a 31-year-old Melrose man was at the dump station in a 2019 Ford pickup and towing a trailer. Two 11-year-old boys were riding on the trailer, preparing to dump trash and debris.

“As the vehicle was moving very slowly, one of the boys stepped off the trailer,” the release stated. “The other boy (Camden), attempted to jump from the trailer but lost his footing and fell. The trailer tires struck Camden, causing critical life-threatening injuries.”

The investigation was continuing Monday, the release stated.