The tragic death of Jeunelle Robinson, a dedicated social studies teacher at Wagener-Salley High School in South Carolina, has left a community in mourning. Jeunelle, 31, was a beloved educator who had a positive influence on her students and colleagues during her time at the school. Her life was tragically cut short by a devastating accident in which an electrical pole fell during her lunch break, leaving her friends, family, and school community to deal with a deep sense of loss.
“Her time here at our school and on this earth seems far too short,” the principal said in a statement after Jeunelle Robinson died…
Jeunelle Robinson, 31, was pronounced dead Aug. 23 at Augusta University Medical Center.
According to Glover, a 2014 Peterbilt tractor-trailer was northbound on S.C. Hwy. 113 when it collided with a “low-hanging power line” near the intersection of Pickens Street in Wagener.
Robinson was heading south on S.C. when it happened. 113 when a nearby power pole collapsed on him.
Robinson, who was on her lunch break, tried to get out of the way but was unable to do so, according to witnesses who spoke to WRDW/WAGT. According to the report, the incident caused an overhead power line to collapse and briefly cut power to about 25 clients.
Glover reported that after being taken to Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Robinson was airlifted to Augusta University Medical Center. The driver was not injured.
The incident reportedly led to a soft lockdown at Wagener-Salley High School, where Robinson was a social studies teacher, according to The Post and Courier.
Principal Rasheem Neloms sent a message to parents: “This tragedy is devastating for all of us as Mrs. Robinson was in her second year teaching social studies at Wagener-Salley.”
Over the past year, she has developed close friendships with several of her co-workers and deep relationships with many of our students. Her time in our school and on this planet seems too short to me; she was kind and genuine to everyone she met.
According to WRDW/WAGT, her attorney, Justin Bamberg, noted at a press conference Tuesday that the pole that struck Robinson was 60 years old. Her heartbroken family is now trying to make sure such an event never happens again.
Although no lawsuit has been filed, Bamberg said the family is asking for certain things to “make things right,” including $100 million in property taxes and a $10 million annual scholarship in the 30-year-old’s name for children in Aiken County…
According to WRDW/WAGT, the family is also seeking a pledge to invest $20 million in electrical and utility infrastructure for the towns of Salley and Wagener.
If employees had followed through on their duties, “it certainly could have been avoided,” Bamberg told The Post and Courier. “The fact that so many people were not doing their duty was the only reason this happened. Period.”
Donovan Julian is reported to have commented in a newspaper about his daughter: “She was taken too soon and she was a joy”.
As the community mourns the loss of Jeunelle Robinson, there is a collective call for responsibility and action. Her memory serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of safety and responsible infrastructure maintenance. Her legacy lives on through the lasting impact she had on her students and colleagues, and through her family’s efforts to ensure such a tragic loss never happens again.
In the face of unimaginable grief, the memory of Jeunelle Robinson shines as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Her passion for education, her commitment to the community, and her unwavering kindness continue to touch the hearts of those who knew her. While her physical presence may be gone, her spirit lives on in the lessons she imparted and the love she shared with those who were lucky enough to know her.