Snoqualmie Ridge mourns loss of boy

By Lori Varosh
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

Tanner Nathaniel Jeans was 7 years old.

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"He couldn't sit and watch TV," said his father, Brian Jeans. "He loved giving to other kids. He had so much more to give."

Tanner was doing what he loved, bicycling with friends, about 6 p.m. Wednesday, when he was run over by a pickup on Southeast English Street, a quiet neighborhood street in front of his Snoqualmie Ridge home.

Tanner was wearing a helmet as he led three friends, two 6 and one 7, out of an alley, when his bike slammed into the passenger side of the pickup and apparently slid underneath, police said.

The pickup driver, a 47-year-old Carnation man, told Tanner's three buddies to call 911, then helped Tania Miller — a nurse and the mother of one of Tanner's friend — try to revive Tanner with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said Snoqualmie Police Chief James K. Schaffer.

But Tanner died at the scene.

Although still under investigation, police said they found no evidence that speed, alcohol or reckless driving were involved.

Community gathering Counselors, police officers and others will be available at 7 p.m. today at a community gathering to remember Tanner Jeans, at the Trailside Building, 35131 S.E. Douglas St., Snoqualmie. Police will explain the accident and offer safety advice. Counselors will talk about coping with grief.

"It was a tragic, horribly tragic accident," Schaffer said. "They happen, but they're just not supposed to happen to 7-year-olds."

Tanner died a month after his first visit to Disneyland, and two days before completing first grade at Snoqualmie Elementary School. A cast on his arm from a fall hadn't slowed him down.

"For a 7-year-old, he lived a 20-year life," his father said. His family took trips to Chelan, Hawaii and Palm Springs. He played baseball and Xbox with his dad, golf and pirates with his grandfather in Ferndale.

"He was totally into make-believe," said Tanner's grandmother, Carrie Unick. Said his paternal grandmother, Linda Jeans: "He was just a beautiful child, all boy."

Aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends converged on the family home yesterday to remember the 52-pound boy who wanted to gain enough weight to play football and who was patient with his brother and "best buddy," Hayden, 5.

He was "a good little guy," who loved computer games, swords and guns, said his neighbor and baseball coach, Charlie Salmon. "If you can get a Nerf war going, he's as happy as can be."

Counselors and psychologists were called to Snoqualmie Elementary yesterday, said Scott Poirier, assistant superintendent.

Friends signed expressions of love and support on banners set up in the school's gym.

"They're very young kids. They're very passionate about their friends," Poirier said.

Neighbors were planning to hold a candlelight vigil last night at a park near Tanner's Snoqualmie Ridge home.

A funeral service and celebration of Tanner's life are planned for Sunday.

In the meantime, Brian Jeans hoped other parents would "tell your kids you love them every day. You never know when something is going to happen."

Lori Varosh: 206-515-5618 or lvarosh@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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