June 8, 2009


The Hatteras Island community is rallying around the family of a 7-year-old boy who died in a tragic accident in Buxton on Sunday, June 7.

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Cesar Ascencio Ramirez died after a neighbor backed over him in his vehicle as he was backing out of his driveway on Nace Jennette Road in Buxton.

The accident happened around 6:30 p.m., and the child was pronounced dead at the HealthEast Family Care clinic in Hatteras village at 7:20 p.m. by Dr. Robert Hihld, the police said.

The neighbor who struck the boy was identified by police as Donald Frank Bradley, Jr.

Highway Patrol Trooper D.K. Hensley, who responded to the incident, said that no alcohol, drugs, or careless or reckless driving were involved in the accident.

He said the driver just backed up and “didn’t see the child.”

No charges have been filed, Hensley said.  He added that he will send a report to the district attorney, who will make the final decision about filing any charges against the driver.

Cesar was a first grader in Jennifer Munden’s class at Cape Hatteras Elementary School.

Principal Ray Gray said that counselors and a Dare County Schools central office employee were at the school today to help children deal with the death.

Gray said a counselor met with the class and that counselors had seen several children individually.

“Some of the adults are actually worse off than the children,” Gray said.

At the Outer Banks Motel, Carol Dillon, is organizing an effort to raise funds to help the family with burial expenses.

Cesar’s stepfather, David Ibarra, has been a maintenance person at Dillon’s motel for three years.  His mother, Estella Ramirez, works for Outer Beaches Realty in its laundry facility and often works for Dillon on weekends.

The couple also has a daughter who is a 5-year-old kindergartner at Cape Hatteras Elementary School and a younger child.

Dillon said the couple immigrated from Mexico.

“They are hard working people and very nice people,” she said.

Dillon was with the parents at the clinic last night when Cesar was declared dead.

She said they told her that their children and some other youngsters were playing outside their trailer.  The parents were inside when a neighbor burst through the door and said, “I’ve run over a child.”

“I stayed at the clinic,” said Dillon, “and it was one of the most pitiful scenes I have ever witnessed.  Estella was screaming and screaming….and David was crying.”

The family could not stay at their trailer last night since it is a crime scene, Dillon said, so she moved them into her motel.

“These people don’t have anything in the world,” Dillon said. “They are living in an old trailer and squeaking by paycheck to paycheck.”

But Dillon added that David Ibarra said their life was better here than in Mexico. He was learning English and trying to do better for his family.

This morning, Carol Dillon was talking about the tragic death and was overheard by a guest at the motel, Norman Fuhrer.  She says Fuhrer listened, left the office, and then returned with $100 for the family.
“I started crying,” she said. “It just tore me up.”

Dillon is accepting donations to help the family. They can be dropped off at the Outer Banks Motel in Buxton or mailed to Outer Banks Motel, P.O. Box 428, Buxton, NC 27920.  Checks should be made out to Cesar’s stepfather, David Iberra.

“It’s just been a nightmare,” Dillon said, “and I’m a strong woman.”

The family will be at Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church in Buxton at 10 a.m. Wednesday for visitation, followed by a Mass at 1 p.m.

Comments are always welcomed!      Subject :      Name :  (required)      Email :  (required, will not be published)      City :   (required)    State :   (required)      Your Comments: May be posted on the Letters to the Editor page at the discretion of the editor.