Florida Boy Taken Off Life Support After Ocoee Crash as Family, School and Neighbors Rally Around Him
OCOEE, FL — A 12-year-old boy injured in a crash in Ocoee was taken off life support Tuesday after his condition failed to improve. Rodney Jean Thomas was struck Monday evening while crossing Old Winter Garden Road near Blackwood Avenue, according to Ocoee police.
Police said officers were called to the scene around 7:45 p.m. When they arrived, they found the boy critically injured and arranged for him to be airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Family friends and loved ones gathered at his bedside as the situation worsened.
Crash happened on dark stretch of Old Winter Garden Road
Family friend Christy Reynolds said Rodney had been outside playing with a friend when he and his younger brother tried to cross the road. Reynolds, who said she considers the boy like a nephew, said the area was dark and had few streetlights at the time of the crash.
Reynolds said Rodney’s younger brother witnessed what happened. The circumstances added to the family’s shock, she said, because the boys were simply spending time together when the collision occurred. Ocoee police said the driver stayed at the scene after the crash.
Family says Rodney was known for music and kindness
Reynolds described Rodney as a loving child who enjoyed music, singing and listening to Z88.3. She said he liked singing along and regularly attended vacation Bible school at their church.
She also said he was especially devoted to his younger brothers. In her words, he was a good big brother who loved his family and took that role seriously. Loved ones visited him after the crash, hoping for improvement, but his condition did not get better before he was removed from life support.
Thornebrooke Elementary says it is supporting the family
Rodney attended Thornebrooke Elementary School, which released a statement after the crash expressing support for him and his family. The school also directed people who wanted to help to the family’s GoFundMe page.
Reynolds said the family has been overwhelmed by concern from the wider community. She said the support has helped, but the loss is still devastating as relatives try to process what happened and care for Rodney’s two younger brothers.
Police continue to investigate the deadly crash
Ocoee police said the investigation remains open. Officials have not released additional details about what led to the collision or whether any charges are being considered.
The crash has left the family with painful questions and a community searching for ways to help. For now, police are asking the facts to be handled through the ongoing investigation while relatives grieve the loss of a child they say was full of life and deeply loved.
Community grief grows after boy’s death
The death has resonated beyond the family, especially among neighbors, church members and school friends who knew the child as energetic and kind. Reynolds said people around the family have stepped forward with love and practical support in the wake of the crash.
Even as the family mourns, the focus has shifted to honoring Rodney’s life and supporting his younger siblings. The crash has become a painful reminder of how quickly an ordinary evening can turn tragic on a busy roadway, particularly in areas where visibility is limited after dark.