13-year-old killed in dirt bike crash: ‘He’s just a little boy’

WHIGHAM, Ga. (WALB/Gray News) - The family of a 13-year-old Georgia boy who was killed in a dirt bike crash in Grady County is speaking out.

Linden Phillips lost his life Monday afternoon when, as his family said, he lost control of his dirt bike while trying to jump a ditch in their yard. He then ended up on a main roadway.

The boy’s family wants the community to know how loved Linden was, but they also said they’re aware of the law and they did not allow him to ride his dirt bike on main roads.

“He was never allowed to ride in the road. It was just a freak accident, just a freak accident,” Ariah Phillips, Linden’s older sister, said.

A report from Georgia State Patrol noted the commercial vehicle that hit Linden’s bike attempted to steer away when the boy entered the road.

“I just don’t want it to be made out like he was allowed to just ride around in the road. He’s just a little boy and was breaking the rules,” Ariah said. “For one, he wasn’t supposed to be riding his dirt bike with my parents not home. Secondly, he was supposed to have a helmet on, and thirdly, he was not supposed to be by the road at all.”

The family set up a GoFundMe to help them get through this devastating time.

On March 29, family and friends will honor Linden by wearing yellow. As some say, yellow is a joyful, bright and great-spirited color.

“March 29, everybody is going to wear yellow and call it ‘Forever Fishing Day because that’s what he loved to do and he was just yellow all around. He was just loved by so many and I want to just thank the community for coming together for us and showing us how much our boy was loved,” Ariah said.

Many reacted on Facebook when they heard the news of Linden’s passing. They shared thoughtful messages telling the community to keep the boy’s family in their prayers.

“He was a goofball, that’s for sure, and he was loved by so many. Every time you walked in a room, you would light up because his smile is just so contagious. He was just great all around,” Ariah added.

Michael Best, with Grady County Schools, said in a statement, “We think of our school system as a family and anytime we suffer the loss of a student or a staff member, we all grieve. We are tremendously saddened by this loss, and we, especially the students and staff at Wigham School, are mourning the loss of not only a student, but a classmate and a friend too many.

Funeral arrangements for Linden are set for Saturday at 1 p.m.