Colton Bureau, the 14-year-old Apollo-Ridge High School student who fell into the Kiski River on Saturday, died Monday morning at UPMC Children’s Hospital, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Monday evening.
Colton suffered an unspecified medical emergency before falling into the river. First responders were called about 2:45 p.m. Saturday to the Roaring Run trailhead off of Canal Road, Kiski Township police said at the time.
Two other children and eight adults were with him and helped pull the boy out of the water, police said. It was unclear how long the teen was in the water.
The Apollo-Ridge community has been rallying around the family since Saturday. Colton was a ninth grader and a member of the high school football team.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family.
Family friend Nicole Nix is spearheading community assistance efforts, including a meal train. She posted on social media that anyone interested in donating can do so at the old Stanford Home Center, 310 Clifford Ave., in Apollo.
Richelle Gourley of the Apollo-Ridge Touchdown Club and Football Team said the team’s Charity Night on Friday will honor Colton, with a collection for donations for the family at the gate before the football game. In addition, she said, “the cheerleaders are honoring Colton with an epilepsy awareness T-shirt and bows with his football number (81) and name. The football team will be wearing a CB sticker on their helmets.”
On Sunday, Apollo-Ridge School District Superintendent Courtney Anderson posted a letter to the district website. “The Apollo-Ridge School Community is coping with a very tragic event that occurred over the weekend,” the letter began. “We will have counselors available this week, with a heavy focus at the secondary level. They will provide a safe space for students to process their feelings and to receive guidance on how to manage questions, worries and emotions that may surface.”
