Sophomore McKoy Clarke was struck by a driver on the intersection of 210 St. and 8 Ave. on Feb. 12, at 6:15 a.m.

His mother, AnnMarie Campell, who was at work at the time, was notified by a concerned neighbor and a phone call from the police. She rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital where Clarke lay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was pronounced brain dead by a doctor on staff.

"I was in a state of denial," Campell said. "I just did not want to believe that he was dead."

Clarke remained brain dead, his brain suffering irreversible inactivity while his organs still functioned with machine assistance. He was declared clinically dead on Friday afternoon.

Campell decided to donate her son’s organs. They were given to the University of Miami Hospital, and within hours, a 19-year-old received one of Clarke’s lungs.

"This [McKoy’s death] was my worst nightmare," Principal Matthew Welker said. "I’ve never had a student who was a member of my school die tragically. It’s very emotionally difficult for me."

Campell called the school on Thursday and left a message for Clarke’s guidance counselor, Jack Heinemann. The message was not heard because Heinemann was out of school for the day. Campell came to the school on Friday during second block to inform the administration of the accident. She saw Clarke’s best friend, sophomore Teran Smith, in the office, who received the news with tears.

There is a crisis procedure that the school follows to offer support to students and faculty. Guidance counselor Larry Ball, the head of school services, contacted the head of the Crisis Response Team for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), who sent four regional psychologists to the school.

"We first have to assess what the needs are, such as the number of students impacted and the nature of the crisis, and then we each take different roles," guidance counselor Lisa LaMonica said, who coordinated student services for the crisis.

The Library/Information Center opened to students coping with the crisis. Eight to ten counselors were available for grieving students. Counselors also went to Clarke’s old classrooms to answer students’ questions and assess their level of need.

"Stay strong. Keep your head up. Live life to the fullest," Smith said, as a message to all affected students.

Another friend passed a memorial book around the school, allowing students to write a last message to Clarke. The book was buried with Clarke.

"This [the school’s support] is one of the reasons why I am not crying so much," Campell said. "I know I’m not the only person who loves McKoy."