Ramona High students mourn classmate who died yesterday after accident in PE class

Thursday, April 11—

Candles arranged in the shape of a cross, flowers, passages from the Bible, notes, cards,

and other memorabilia, including a Magic Marker, pens, and pencils decorate the base of a tree in front of Ramona High School today, a tribute to a friend and fellow student who died yesterday after being hit by a softball during a morning physical education class.

Taylor Dorman, a sophomore, was playing “over-the-line,” a game similar to softball with schoolmates when he was accidentally struck in the chest by a softball about 11:20 a.m., the county medical examiner’s office reported.

“There was a line drive hit off the bat of another student,” said Ramona High Principal Tony Newman. The hit “caused complications,” he said, and “a little while later the student collapsed.”

According to the medical examiner’s report, Taylor developed shortness of breath, then became unresponsive and had seizure-type activity. Sheriff’s deputies and Ramona Fire Station 80 paramedics responded to the school’s 9-1-1 call. Paramedics found Taylor in ventricular fibrillation, and initiated advanced cardiac life support, and a Mercy Air helicopter

transported him from the football field to Palomar Medical Center.

“They were very, very quick to respond, thankfully,” Newman said of the paramedics.

Taylor’s 16th birthday was yesterday. He died at the hospital at 3:40 p.m., the medical examiner reported.

Counselors and psychologists are at the school today to help students and school employees deal with their grief.

Counseling will be available to help students and staff in any way needed, Newman said yesterday — “tomorrow, the day after, or any day in the future.”

“He was a great young man,” Newman said of Taylor. “He was very well-liked by many on campus. This will

have an impact on students and staff. We will remember some good memories and keep them alive in our hearts and our thoughts and our conversations.”

Regarding the boy who hit the line drive off the bat, Newman said, “We are concerned about him as well. We’ve been in contact with his family. Our hearts are going out to him as well. It was an accident and was not his fault.”