COVENTRY – A 14-year-old Afton boy died of massive internal injuries Tuesday after his sled careened into the snow-covered roadway and into the path of car.

Robert Baxter, 14, of 276 Beebe Road, was rushed to Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City as emergency crews constantly performed CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) at the scene and in the ambulance. Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

The accident occurred at around 11:52 a.m. yesterday in the Town of Afton as a light snow fell over the region and covered the roadways.

“Throughout the day there were other kids sledding at the location, but at the time of the accident, only one other teenager was present,” said Chenango County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb.

The teens had been sliding down a private driveway along Beebe Ave. when a Ford Focus operated by 27-year-old Jason Poss, who lives just down the road from the victim, was driving past the area the boys were playing. Poss and his passenger, Jordan Boudreau, 18, had their views obstructed by trees and bushes, said Cobb, and were unable to stop in time to avoiding striking Baxter as his sled suddenly came into the road. Poss and Boudreau were not injured.

“Whenever you get a call for a child, it just a terrible tragedy. No family can prepare itself for something like this. It’s just a shame you have see these things. It obviously devastates the family, the community and the driver of the vehicle,” said Chenango County Sheriff Thomas Loughren.

Detective Cobb said there would be no tickets issued and that “the cause of the accident was determined not to be the fault of the operator.”

Baxter was one of four brothers who attended school in the Afton School District, said Afton Central School Superintendent Elizabeth Briggs.