ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 1996 TAG: 9607230041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
A 13-year-old boy - a student at Radford Intermediate School who loved computers and science fiction books - was killed Saturday when the go-cart he was driving flipped.
Brian Hannifan, who would have been in the eighth grade, was camping with his family on the banks of the New River, near Ingles Street.
According to a Radford City Police news release, Hannifan was headed down a dirt trail near the campsite when the go-cart flipped, causing severe head injuries. He was taken to Carilion Radford Community Hospital by his father, Tom Hannifan, and died an hour later.
The Rev. Brent Taylor, from First Baptist Church in Radford, said Brian Hannifan came from a close family that enjoyed doing things together. Hannifan is survived by two younger brothers, Sam and Matt.
Taylor said Hannifan was just becoming involved with youth group activities in the church, especially when it had to do with computers. He competed in the Odyssey of the Mind meets at school. Taylor said he was "very quick-witted."
"One of the pictures his family showed me is Brian dressing up in all kinds of costumes and making faces," Taylor said.
"His mom and dad said they'd never heard a bad word out of him. He was just a good kid."
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB