Beth Mechum
Staff Writer
The family of Atlas Fraley has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence in his death. Fraley, a 17-year-old Chapel Hill High School football player, died Aug. 12, 2008 in his home following a 911 call at 1:45 p.m., in which he told responders his body hurt all over and he thought he needed fluids.
According to Orange County Emergency Services, a paramedic arrived at Fraley’s home on Fan Branch Lane at 1:53 p.m. and left at 2:16 p.m. When Fraley’s parents returned home around 6 p.m., they found their son dead.
In the suit, the Fraley family blames Orange County, Orange County Emergency Services and paramedic James Griffin for not showing proper care that could have kept the teenager alive.
Though an autopsy couldn’t provide a definitive explanation for Fraley’s death, it did suggest that dehydration and cramping may have led to a fatal heart attack.
Griffin was the paramedic who responded to Fraley’s 911 call hours before he died. He was reprimanded by the county, had his paramedic privileges revoked and later resigned from his job.
Orange County conducted an internal investigation, which found Griffin had failed to complete protocols, including contacting Fraley’s parents and taking his temperature.
The internal investigation makes up much of the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed last month in Orange County Superior Court.