Published: December 17, 2008 05:19 pm      

Accident takes life of Coatesville boy

COATESVILLE — An 8-year-old Coatesville boy died Saturday as a result of a tragic accident.

Indiana State Police said Stephen Patterson Jr. was playing with his 3-year-old brother, his 7-year-old brother, and a 7-year-old friend in the basement of his family’s home. Witnesses said Stephen was playing in a homemade blanket hammock when the blanket became entangled around his neck.

The other children notified Stephen’s parents and they, along with a neighbor, performed CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive, police said.

Stephen was taken to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville where we was pronounced dead. Hendricks County Coroner Steve Matthews performed an autopsy Sunday and determined the cause of death to be strangulation.

Police say they are continuing to investigate, but have determined the death to be accidental.

andrea.hirsch@flyergroup.com