Clinton police officers buy fishing gear for boy whose mom died in crash
Eathyn Rau, whose mother died in a traffic accident Dec. 11 in Clinton, holds a fishing rod given to him last week by officers at the Clinton Police Department. From left in the back are officers Seth Johnson and Austin Powell, Sgt. Matt Howell and Cpl. Nathan Braden. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Police Sgt. Matt Howell, Cpl. Nathan Braden and Patrol Officers Seth Johnson and Austin Powell went together to buy a fishing rod and reel, tackle box and other fishing gear for Eathyn Rau, who had turned 10 years old just two days before his mother died.
Maternal grandfather Terry Rau of Knoxville, whom Eathyn was visiting when his mom died, said Eathyn was given the fishing gear last Friday at Clinton police headquarters.
“Sgt. Howell called me and asked if he could get together with us and take Eathyn out for a hamburger,” Terry Rau said.
“We did that, and he said the officers who handled my daughter’s wreck wanted to do something for Eathyn for Christmas.
“I told them that he really has gotten into fishing lately, so they decided to get him a Baitcaster rod and reel, soft-side tackled box and some lures,” Rau said.
Terry Rau said he has applied for permanent custody of his grandson, and hopes he will be able to keep him now that his mother is gone.
Elizabeth Rau also left behind a young daughter, but had seen her for about two years because the girl, about 6, is in the custody of her father, who is different from Eathyn’s father, Terry Rau said.
Terry Rau said his daughter was on her way home to where she lived with both her boyfriend and her mother on Beets Valley Road off Old Lake City Highway when her small Hyundai sedan crossed the centerline and hit a Dodge pickup truck head-on. She died at the scene.
“We’re just trying to get through this the best we can,” Terry Rau said. He has four grandsons in all, and the oldest, who is 14, lives with him, he added.
An anonymous donor paid the expenses to have Elizabeth Rau’s remains cremated, and there will be some kind of memorial service later on, he said.
Clinton Chief of Police Vaughn Becker said Monday, “It was a good thing they did for him,” referring to the officers’ giving the fishing gear to Eathyn.