Fourteen-year-old Blaine juvenile loses his life while riding an ATV

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

Eric Leeland Harper, 14, was riding alone on Brushy Creek Road when he lost control of the ATV.

His mother, Lisa Harper, said the person driving by stopped and notified a neighbor so they could call 911.

“Eric was a big-hearted person, riding his ATV was his favorite thing to do, he’d ridden them since he was a small child,” said Harper. “The site of the crash is an area where he’s ridden many times.”

Eric’s sister, Cortney Harper has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the unexpected final expenses, she wrote a tribute to her brother on the page, “Eric was so full of life and strived to be just like his big brother Steven, who we recently lost in 2023. He was the most kind hearted, loving, caring and adventurous 14 year-old you’d ever meet. He loved the outdoors and just being a boy-most of the time if you see him riding, he would have his dog “Big Dog” alongside his adventures with him, they were the best of friends.”

Survivors include his sister Cortney and fiancé Jayden Triplett; a brother, Jordan Harper; grandmother Judy (Randy) Powers and grandfather, Bob (Margaret) Harper.

Stoney and Lisa Harper lost their older son, Steven in December of 2023, and since that time Eric had been homeschooled.

Lisa urges other parents to force their kids to always wear helmets when riding. She says Eric did the majority of the time, but was not at the time of the accident.

To honor the memory of Eric, family and friends will have a Hotdog benefit dinner on Sunday, March 9, 1-3 p.m., at the Blaine Community Center, 14 Big Laurel Creek Rd. You can come visit and eat or get it to go. The menu consists of a hotdog with sauce, chips, cookie and drink for $5. Proceeds go toward funeral arrangements.

The Cherokee Ridge Mudslingers will have a benefit ride on Saturday, March 15, beginning at noon. Address to meet is 6722 North 201, Webbville. $5 per person, with proceeds going to the Harper family.

Services were Tuesday, March 4, at Wilson Funeral Home, with Daniel Castle officiating. Eric was laid to rest next to his brother Steven in the Harper Family Cemetery, Blaine.