A 12-year-old boy died Monday after being electrocuted when he touched a fence that had been electrified by a live wire at a Fleming Athletic Complex ball field near the Bernie Ward Community Center. 
 
 Melquan Kwame Robinson, of the 3400 block of Applejack Terrace, was at football practice at the Lumpkin Road complex when he went over a chain-link fence, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen. 
 
 A live wire was reportedly touching the fence, and when Melquan grabbed the fence, he was electrocuted, Bowen said. Three other people were also injured in the incident. 
 
 Melquan was taken to the Children's Hospital of Georgia where he was pronounced dead at 9:56 p.m. His body will be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab for an autopsy Tuesday. 
 
 Don Clark, a Robinson family friend and Melquan's former coach, said the child's parents are trying to go through the grieving process. Melquan was their firstborn and one of three children. 
 
 "They're definitely upset over the fact of how could this happen, with the fact that there were so many children," Clark said. "You can play the what ifs in many different scenarios and it will never get any better. The fact that this situation happened with so many kids out here, it's heartbreaking." 
 
 Clark said Melquan was very protective of his siblings and loved his family, which makes the situation that much tougher. Clark feels that it might be hard for his siblings to deal with the loss of their brother because of how young they are. 
 
 According to a statement from the city of Augusta, which owns and operates the community center and athletic complex, three other people were injured in the accident. Two were juveniles and the other was an adult, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. 
 
 "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved in this accident," Mayor Hardie Davis said in a statement. "We ask Augustans to stand together to extend our condolences and embrace the family of Melquan Kwame Robinson with love during this sudden and unexpected loss." 
 
 Clark praised the courage shown by the two other children who were injured trying to save their friend. Their conditions were not available Tuesday night. 
 
 "The friends, the way they responded, what motivates a young boy that young to jump into action and help their friend out," Clark said. "Those are the two young boys that are in the hospital right now because they were trying to help out a friend." 
 
 Clark said he will remember Melquan's smile. Melquan was energetic, very athletic and very passionate about playing football and sports, according to Clark. He said Melquan wanted to be a professional athlete when he grew up. 
 
 Melquan was a member of the Trinity Elite Titans football team, which issued a statement on Facebook: "Good morning everyone, this is a sad moment for our Trinity Elite Titans family......we are still in disbelief. We are sending our prayers and love out to the family of our football player, #MelquanKwameRobinson#, who has gone to rest with the Lord. One solider gone too soon.........you will be truly missed!!!!" 
 
 Although the family is grieving, Clark wanted to remind people that this is affecting friends, teammates and coaches of Melquan. He hopes the city and the community are able to come together for the family and friends. 
 
 "This is exactly one of those tests, that as a city and a community, we all need to stand up and move forward toward the challenge," Clark said. 
 
 According to a sheriff's office report, a deputy who responded to the scene performed chest compression on Melquan about 9 p.m. Another deputy stated in the report that he was told the child had been electrocuted by the outfield fence. After a few rounds of chest compressions, Melquan coughed and was turned to his left side. A deputy checked his pulse but none was found, and chest compressions were continued, the report states. 
 
 A Gold Cross ambulance unit arrived about 9:16 p.m. and loaded Melquan onto a stretcher. Another ambulance arrived to transport a second victim, according to the incident report, which stated that the child was with Melquan and was injured when he tried to pull his friend down from the fence. 
 
 A third victim told deputies that he and Melquan were throwing a football and it went over the fence. Melquan climbed the fence to get the ball and when he came back over, he was electrocuted, the incident report states. He tried to pull Melquan from the fence and he too was injured, according to the incident report. 
 
 Bowen said his office, the sheriff's office and the city will each conduct investigations. Bowen will primarily focus on the death, while the city will look into how the live electrical wire happened. 
 
 Georgia Power released a statement saying it will work with local officials as they conduct the investigation. 
 
 "Georgia Power's condolences and sympathies are with the individuals and their families following last night's tragic event at Fleming Athletic Complex," the statement says. "Our preliminary investigation indicates that Georgia Power does not control or maintain the voltage that energized the fences at the complex." 
 
 Melquan was a seventh-grader at Morgan Road Middle School, according to Kaden Jacobs, the Richmond County school system's director of communications. 
 
 "Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time," Jacobs said. "We have provided additional support to Morgan Road Middle School for students and staff." 
 
 All football activities have been canceled for the rest of the week at Fleming Park, according to a spokesperson for the complex. 
 
 Clark said more details will be provided in the future on how the community can help. 
 
 "We lost a future leader," he said. "We lost a future athlete. We lost a child in our city." 
 
 A vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bernie Ward Community Center. 
 
 Staff writers Amanda King and David Lee contributed to this article. ||||| Tuesday, October 16, 2018 
 
 (News 12 at 11) 
 
 AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Multiple investigations begin after a 12-year-old boy is electrocuted at a local park and two other boys who tried to help him are still recovering from their injuries. 
 
 The mom of David Sette, one of the boys who tried to help, said her son is doing better. He was moved from ICU to a regular room at The Children's Hospital, but she says doctors have some concerns with his blood levels involving muscle breakdown, which can lead to future problems. We haven't yet heard a condition update of the other friend who jumped in to help. 
 
 It was a freak accident that turned tragic for three families. Deputies say 12-year-old Melquan Robinson climbed over the fence at Fleming Park to get a football. The incident report says, "When Robinson went to come back over the fence, he was electrocuted." 
 
 "He had the grit and motivation to get up and keep going," said Melquan’s former football coach, Don Clark. 
 
 Deputies say Melquan had no pulse. They tried to revive him, but couldn't. 
 
 "If my child was the one that didn't make it, I think I would just be devastated. I wouldn't have words," Whitney Winston said. 
 
 Two of Melquan's friends ran to help. Both boys were shocked too, taken to the hospital, but survived. 
 
 "The fact that this happened with so many kids out here it's just. It's heartbreaking," Clark said. 
 
 Parents hit especially hard knowing this could have been their child. 
 
 "I was out here for my son's football game," Winston said. 
 
 Whitney Winston's 6-year-old son was playing a football game right before it happened. It's her son's first year playing here, and now possibly his last. 
 
 "Worried, cause I don't know if we'll stay playing football," Winston said. 
 
 Tonight, she's holding onto her son a little tighter and sending her prayers to all those mourning the loss of this 12-year-old boy. 
 
 "I wish well to the parents. I send out my thoughts and prayers and strength, and to the boys," Winston said. "And that mother that has one less child." 
 
 
 
 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 
 
 (News 12 First at 5 / News 12 at 6 O’Clock / NBC 26 at 7) 
 
 AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young boys are recovering in the hospital while one family mourns the loss of a son. 12-year-old Melquan Robinson was killed Monday when he tried to jump over a chain link fence that was charged by an underground electrical wire. 
 
 It happened during football practice at Fleming Park, owned by the city. 
 
 There’s absolutely more than one victim in this tragic accident, as parents and teammates watched in horror. Two young boys jumped into action to help pull Melquan from the fence. 
 
 News 12 had the chance to speak with Melquan’s former football coach Tuesday afternoon. He’s been chosen as a spokesperson for the Robinson family as they grieve. He says heartbreak has hit the young band of brothers. 
 
 “The fact that this happened with so many kids out here, it’s just heartbreaking,” Don Clark was able to hold his emotions while he spoke to us Tuesday. 
 
 Melquan died a short time after he was brought to a local hospital. Clark says the family is sick over their loss. 
 
 "[Monday] this mother went to bed, or woke up with her son still walking around living, and [Monday] she realized she lost her first born. It's not an easy thing." 
 
 He says the family is too hurt to even speak. 
 
 "This just happened yesterday. They are barely even able to determine what’s what." 
 
 Melquan's former coach is saying what his parents can't. 
 
 “This young man was where he needed to be. He was doing what he loved. He was doing what was tied to his passions.” 
 
 Clark tells us the city is suffering the loss of a future leader, athlete and an overall amazing child. 
 
 Melquan's family is holding a vigil Thursday at 6:00 at Bernie Ward Community Center. They are opening it up to the entire community. ||||| Monday, November 21, 2016 
 
 A county school bus was involved in a tragic accident in Brainerd on Talley Road on Monday afternoon, and five children were killed and six others critically injured. Six other children were admitted to Children's Hospital and another 20 were treated and released. 
 
 The fatalities included four girls and one boy - one kindergartener, one first grader and three fourth graders. 
 
 Children’s Hospital at Erlanger confirmed as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 12 patients are hospitalized from yesterday’s bus crash, six in critical condition and six listed as stable. A total of 19 pediatric patients were treated and released from Children’s Hospital on Monday. 
 
 Late Monday night, the school bus driver was charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. He was identified as 24-year-old Johnthony Walker. He lives in an apartment on Shallowford Road. Walker is being held at the Hamilton County Jail on bonds totaling $107,500. 
 
 Police said he was traveling at a high rate of speed on curvy Talley Road, which has a 30 mph speed limit. He lost control of the bus and swerved off the road to the right. He struck an elevated roadway and mailbox, then swerved to the left and began to overturn. 
 
 The bus then struck a vehicle and a tree. 
 
 
 
 The Chattanooga Fire Department was involved in extricating victims who were entrapped. 
 
 Chattanooga Police Traffic Division investigators processed the scene overnight and were determining the sequence of events related to the crash. 
 
 Police said names of the children would not be released. 
 
 The Hamilton County DA's office earlier said several children were killed at the scene, and another died after being transported to the hospital. 
 
 
 
 The bus, which was carrying students from Woodmore Elementary School, wound up lying on its side crushed into a large tree. 
 
 
 
 Officials said that 35 people were on the bus and that 23 had been transported to hospitals. Rescue efforts were continuing, but the last person was extricated before 6 p.m. The children were aged kindergarten through fifth grade. Officials said the bus driver was cooperating with authorities. 
 
 The crash site was being treated as a crime scene. It was noted that the roads were dry and it was a clear day. 
 
 A warrant was secured in order to obtain the information box and videos from the school bus. 
 
 The wreck happened around 3:20 p.m. near the intersection with Midwoode Drive. No other vehicles were involved in the wreck. 
 
 
 
 Durham School Services operates most of the county school buses. 
 
 The National Transportation Safety Board was launching an investigation. 
 
 
 
 Woodmore and other county schools were to be open on Tuesday with a number of counselors available. 
 
 County school officials said Tuesday morning, "On Monday afternoon, Hamilton County Schools suffered the worst tragedy in recent history with the news of a fatal bus crash on Talley Road in Chattanooga. 
 
 "Our hearts and prayers are with the families, friends, and loved ones within our school community that were affected by this terrible tragedy. 
 
 "We mourn with the Woodmore Elementary School students and staff as they try to come to grips with this tragic incident. 
 
 "In light of the horrific crash, we have decided to keep all Hamilton County Schools open today to help the community with the grieving process. 
 
 "Additional grief counselors will be on hand to give aid and comfort to all students and staff." 
 
 Interim Supt. Dr. Kirk Kelly said, “I understand if parents feel it necessary to keep their students home from Woodmore Elementary today, “but want to once again remind everyone that extra trained personnel will be there to counsel and aid anyone seeking assistance in dealing with this horrible tragedy.” 
 
 Hamilton County Schools will provide additional support after today as its needed. 
 
 “Our next step as a school system in the coming days, weeks, and months is to work to heal as a community,” said Dr. Kelly. 
 
 Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond said, “Earlier this afternoon, our community experienced a horrible tragedy when a school bus crashed off of Talley Road claiming the lives of multiple children and injuring others. 
 
 "We are deeply saddened for the family and loved ones who lost these precious little ones today. 
 
 "As the agency responsible for the School Resource Officer program in Hamilton County, my staff and I are deeply saddened by the loss of these young children. There are several families in our County that will not have their loved ones come home tonight and we as a community will feel the sadness and hurt from this event for a very long time to come. 
 
 "I am very proud of the Chattanooga firefighters, police officers, and Hamilton County EMS personnel who helped to rescue the injured. I am also very proud of the members of the HCSO who worked along side our city first responders.” 
 
 Governor Bill Haslam on Monday evening issued the following statement on the Chattanooga bus crash: 
 
 
 
 “Our thoughts and prayers are with victims of today’s tragic school bus crash in Chattanooga. It’s always a very sad situation when you have a school bus crash with children involved and we will do everything we can to assist the local authorities and the victims’ families.” 
 
 County Mayor Jim Coppinger said, "This is a heart-breaking day for Hamilton County. Our thoughts and prayers are with the children who were on the Woodmore Elementary School bus this afternoon, their families are also in our prayers tonight. The students of Woodmore Elementary are also in our thoughts and prayers this evening. I'd like to ask all Hamilton County residents to say a prayer tonight for all involved in today's tragedy." 
 
 
 
 Tennessee football coach Butch Jones said, "Devastating news coming out of Chattanooga. Thoughts and prayers with students and families of Woodmore Elementary School." 
 
 
 
 Colonel Tracy Trott, with the THP, said, "My heart goes out to the families of the children that were killed and injured in the school bus crash in Chattanooga this evening." 
 
 County Mayor Coppinger, City Mayor Andy Berke, interim Supt. Dr. Kirk Kelly, District Attorney Neal Pinkston, and several school board members were on the scene. 
 
 Dr. Kelly was set to hold a press conference update regarding the bus crash at 7 a.m. at Woodmore Elementary. 
 
 An announcement at the hospital directed all physicians and staff to remain on duty. 
 
 A text message went out to parents in Hamilton County: "We just wanted to inform you that Hamilton County schools faced a great tragedy today. School and county personnel are on scene of a bus accident on Talley Road in Chattanooga. Extra counselors and support staff will be on hand to help students process this horrible incident.” 
 
 Family members were asked to go to Woodmore Elementary for information on their children. 
 
 Blood Assurance asked for blood donations because of critical needs for blood. It was going to stay open an hour later until 7 p.m. 
 
 A number of children arrived by ground and there was also a Life Force helicopter in use. 
 
 Congressman Chuck Fleischmann posted a statement to his Facebook page that said, "My thoughts are with the young victims of the Woodmore Elementary School bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am absolutely heartbroken over this tragedy and I will pray for the children and their families." 
 
 
 
 The officers, members and friends of the United Community Action Alliance, together with County Commissioner Greg Beck, said they would like to offer their condolences to the families of the children involved in the fatal bus accident carrying students from kindergarten through fifth grade. 
 
 The Alliance is a non-profit organization founded in 2015 by Commissioner Beck to represent Hamilton County Commission District 5 and serves approximately 34,000 constituents in Eastdale, Washington Hills, North Brainerd, East Chattanooga and Summit. 
 
 "Many of the affected families reside in District 5 and our prayers and sympathy go to all the families directly and indirectly impacted by this unfortunate series of events," Charline Kilpatrick, president, said. 
 
 An official statement from the Alliance said: 
 
 "After preliminary discussions with parents of the children injured and killed in the recent bus accident, it has come to our attention that a number of those families are single parent households. In response to inquiries presented to our members the Officers of the United Community Action Alliance, are calling upon responsible government and business interest to insure that the impacted families are afforded financial relief and assistance with the upcoming medical expenses and funeral arrangements. 
 
 "It is our position that it is incumbent on all responsible parties to be proactive in reaching out to these parents, guardians, caregivers and families to insure the necessary arrangements do not create a financial hardship on any of the victims of this tragedy." 
 
 
 
 Commissioner Beck said, "I would like to express my most sincere condolences to the families the were impacted by the school bus accident on yesterday. The news we received was heart wrenching to say the least and is a nightmare to our school system. We share the grief and sorrow along with the parents of the students lost, and we pray for the speedy recovery of the survivors of the accident. The monumental efforts of family counseling and site management by school board member Karitsa Jones, and area director Cheryl Randolph, did not go un-noticed. Our thanks to those first responders and police officers, city and county leaders, community volunteers and a host of Pastors from the area churches. It is at this time when Chattanooga and Hamilton County shines at its brightest. I would also bring attention to the absolute professional care and coordination of services rendered personally by CEO Kevin Speigel and his staff. The students and teachers at Woodmore Elementary will always remember the love and kindness and understanding sympathy expressed to them by all agencies involved. We can never be prepared enough for a moment like this, but we take comfort in knowing that when called upon, the Chattanooga family will always come together to meet any challenge that is set before us." 
 
 Professional Educators of Tennessee released the following statement: 
 
 "Children are a gift from God. In fact Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a child. Children are our nation’s greatest resource and a parent’s ultimate treasure. There is no comprehension possible on the loss of a child to death. 
 
 "As educators, we understand that children bless our lives, spark our love, and inspire our good deeds. Teachers choose to go into the field of education because they seek to make a difference in the lives of children and mold the future generations. Teaching is the noblest profession in the world. 
 
 "When tragedies occur like the bus crash in Chattanooga, it causes many to reflect on the lost lives, hurting families and incredible pain felt throughout the community. We also recognize the incredible response by people, often strangers who donate blood or engage in an act of kindness. From first responders, staff at the hospital, counselors in schools, to the entire community who have reacted with compassion, it highlights the best among us. Chattanooga proves that love is still the most powerful force on our earth. 
 
 "We do not understand why these children lost their lives or others are made to suffer. The deepest words are reflected in our writing, poetry and songs. But we recognize the futility of words alone. Time and again, we are made aware that our language lacks the suitable words to express the devastation that occupies our hearts or lasting scars on our psyche that arise from this tragedy. All we know to do is to offer our prayers to the families. 
 
 "On behalf of Professional Educators of Tennessee, our staff and our board, our organization expresses our heartfelt condolences to the parents who lost children in this tragedy. We encourage our members to continue to keep the community in their thoughts and prayers. We ask for support for the children still hospitalized and the children who were released. We ask that you consider a donation of blood, or to a charity in the community working with the families. This journey has just begun for them. To the education community, we understand your own emotional challenges and offer our support. 
 
 "In Agamemnon, the Greek poet Aeschylus wrote: “In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” This catastrophe (as many before) has caused us all to grieve. We will never and should never completely recover. Yet, together, we will somehow continue to find our way out of the depths of this despair. God bless the children of Woodmore Elementary School and Hamilton County. And may God continue to bless all the children in Tennessee."
– A 12-year-old was killed and two other boys were injured after a chain link fence electrified by a live underground wire electrocuted them at a city park in Georgia. During football practice at Fleming park in Augusta on Monday, Melquan Robinson hopped a fence to retrieve a ball, WRDW reports, citing the incident report that says when he "went to come back over the fence, he was electrocuted." The seventh-grader was pronounced dead later at Children's Hospital of Georgia, according to the Augusta Chronicle. Two other boys who tried to help their friend were injured and hospitalized, according to reports. The mother of one of them, David Sette, tells WRDW that her son is improving. Per the Chronicle, an adult also was injured in the incident. "We lost a future leader. We lost a future athlete. We lost a child in our city," Melquan's former coach, acting as a spokesman for the bereaved family, tells the Chronicle. The oldest of three children, Melquan loved his family and was very protective of his siblings, he says. Multiple investigations into the incident are reportedly underway, with city officials looking into how the fence became electrified. Georgia Power, offering "condolences and sympathy," said in a statement that the utility "does not control or maintain the voltage" that caused the electrocution. Melquan's family will hold a vigil Thursday at the Bernie Ward Community Center. "This young man was where he needed to be," his former coach says, per WRDW. "He was doing what he loved." (A medieval re-enactor was impaled in a freak accident.)