Fountain Teen Dies After Rollover Accident

A Mesa Ridge High School student is dead. Jaleel John Baptiste was involved in a rollover accident earlier this month, and he passed away Thursday afternoon at Memorial Hospital.

Baptiste’s family and friends say they celebrated the boy’s birthday on Wednesday and had to say goodbye the very next day.

The rollover happened December 2, close to 11:00 p.m. in Fountain.

“He swerved to miss, we are thinking, a coyote, a fox or some small animal and he rolled his vehicle…and he was ejected from the driver side window,” said close family friend Cynthia Morris.

There was another boy in the car, he was wearing his seat belt and survived. Baptiste, who was not buckled in, was left fighting for his life.

“They (doctors) had a couple of trouble spots but he pulled out of that really well and he was really improving there,” said Morris.

That changed Sunday after Baptiste got an infection.

Family and friends say they will always remember Baptiste as an athlete, a fisherman, and a happy kid.

Through Jaleel’s death, loved ones want others to remember the importance of seat belts.

Baptiste’s family is currently accepting donations to help with the cost of remaining medical bills and the funeral. For a link to the website where a person can donate online go to the Links We Mentioned portion of KRDO.com