Ocoee residents are coming together to mourn the tragic death of 12‑year‑old Rodney Thomas, who was struck by a vehicle on Monday evening and later died after several days on life support. Police responded to the crash around 7:45 p.m. on Old Winter Garden Road near Blackwood Avenue, where officers found Rodney in the roadway before he was hit.
Details of the crash
According to Ocoee police, the driver remained at the scene and the boy was quickly transported to a nearby hospital before being air‑lifted to Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Hospital. He remained on life support until his family made the difficult decision to remove it on Wednesday.
Family’s remembrance
Christy Reynolds, a relative who described Rodney as “like a nephew,” said the boy lived in an apartment complex close to the crash site and was attempting to cross the road, possibly heading to a nearby Wendy’s. “It was dark, not well lit, and he was wearing dark clothing, so he wasn’t seen,” Reynolds explained.
Rodney’s 10‑year‑old brother witnessed the incident, adding to the family’s heartbreak. Reynolds emphasized the family’s faith, noting that Rodney loved music, singing, and attending vacation Bible school. “He was a sweet, beautiful boy who loved Jesus,” she said.
Impact on the family
Rodney was the middle child of five boys. His mother, Madianne, is a single parent who works seven days a week to support her children. “She is a broken‑hearted mother, reeling from an unfathomable loss,” Reynolds said, describing the ripple effect on the household.
In addition to grieving, the family now faces practical challenges, including funeral arrangements and lost work hours for Madianne. Reynolds is urging the community to help in any way possible.
Community response
A GoFundMe page has been created to assist the family with funeral costs and to support Madianne’s income loss. Reynolds appealed to residents: “Now is the time for the community—if you’re able, pray, and if you can, contribute to the GoFundMe.”
The tragedy has sparked conversations about pedestrian safety in Ocoee, especially in poorly lit areas. Local officials have not yet commented, but the incident underscores the need for better lighting and traffic calming measures on residential streets.
How to help
Those wishing to support the Thomas family can visit the GoFundMe campaign linked in the original report. Community members are also encouraged to keep the family in prayer and to consider ways to improve street safety to prevent future accidents.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
