Words of comfort fail in face of Altamont go-kart tragedy

Any premature death is heart-rending. But the deaths of two children in a traffic accident in the nearby Altamont, Tenn., community is especially tragic.

Eleven-year-old Nicholas Keener and his little brother, 4-year-old Calvin, died in a go-kart accident this past Saturday close to their home in Altamont.

Altamont is the county seat of Grundy County.

The boys had ridden the go-kart down a slope and were attempting to cross a county road near their house. It was then that they were struck by a car coming up a hill. Evidently neither the children nor the driver, a 30-year-old woman who had two of her own children in her car, saw the other.

There is no indication that it was anything other than a horrible, heartbreaking accident, and no charges have been filed.

There have naturally been expressions of sympathy for the Keener family and undoubtedly for the traumatized driver and her family as well. There will also understandably be calls for caution whenever children ride go-karts or other motorized vehicles.

All of that is appropriate. But at a time like this, there is little that even the sincerest words of comfort can do to ease the pain.

Upcoming Events