Armenian Foreign Exchange Student Killed in ATV Accident in Texas

YEREVAN — A 16-year Armenian foreign exchange student who died in an ATV accident in Texas was identified as Lilit Gevorgyan, a native of Armavir town.

“Lilit was an excellent student and her photo is on the wall among the best students of our school. It was her initiative to participate in an exchange program. This is a blow for all of us,” her school director Nine Dolinyan told News.am.

According to local Sheriff Jason Bridges, the accident happened on private property on County Road 425. He said Gevorgyan was riding an ATV in a pasture and when she did not return home, her guardian and another girl when looking for her. They found her in the pasture with the ATV rolled on top of her.

Lilit’s neighbors are also saddened and struck by the tragedy. They said Lilit, the youngest child in her family, served as an example for other students.

The neighbors said Lilit went to U.S. on August 18 and had to study and live there for a year.

The US Embassy in Armenian issued a statement promising to help to return her body home as soon as possible: “We are inexpressibly sorry to report that a FLEX student from Armenia was killed in an ATV accident on the evening of August 24. All involved parties are working to return her home as soon as possible. Our deepest condolences are with Lilit’s family and friends. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not release additional information at this time”, reads the statement