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GRANADA - Leighton Hugoson, 18, died Sunday after a tragic farming accident at the family farm in rural Granada.
The accident occurred on Friday, July 24. According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office's official report, Hugoson was found at around 9:20 a.m. with his neck pinned between a metal cover and edge in the rear of a feed truck, around 15 minutes after he was last seen.
Hugoson was in the hospital for two days fighting to recover, but was declared neurologically dead at 4:11 p.m. Sunday. According to a CaringBridge post from his mother, Jamie Hugoson, his organs were donated.
Hugoson had graduated this past May from Granada-Huntley-East Chain (GHEC). The school will be livestreaming Leighton's Honor Walk in the near future.
"The family will receive approximately 24 hours notice before Leighton's Honor Walk," GHEC Superintendent Doug Storbeck said. "Once we receive that notification, we will share when the Honor Walk will be livestreamed at the school so that students, staff, families and community members may gather to witness this special tribute together."
Support will be available for those who attend.
"We recognize that grief is deeply personal and that everyone processes loss differently," Storbeck said. "Throughout the evening, local pastors, counselors, social workers and GHEC staff members will be available to provide support, encouragement and a compassionate listening ear to any students, families and community members who may need it."
A clothing drive and meal train are also in the works for the Hugoson family, which includes his parents Jamie and Jon and Leighton's siblings Oakley, Henry and Zoe.
Working with the Hugoson family, former GHEC Ag Teacher and FFA Leader McKenzie Wagelie has set up a GoFundMe. In the day and a half since it was put up, the page has already raised nearly $37,000 to go towards medical and funeral expenses, as well as a scholarship in Leighton Hugoson's honor.
Funeral arrangements will also be shared at a later time. For updates on the honor walk, visit facebook.com/p/GHEC-Schools-100063545617846/. The GoFundMe can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-hugoson-family-with-medical-and-funeral-costs.