A 9-year-old Florida boy who died after allegedly diving under a school bus to retrieve a football was a cancer survivor who “went through a lot” in his short life, his family said at a candlelight vigil Wednesday. did.
A group of about 100 relatives and community members gathered outside the East Orlando apartment complex where Elias Marshall Rodriguez was hit by a school bus Tuesday afternoon shortly after being dropped off.
Trena Gale, the boy's cousin, said the 9-year-old boy was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2 years old and is in remission. According to the Orlando Sentinel.
“He had already been through so much in his life, so for something like this to happen is like a stab in the spine to our hearts,” Gail said.
Gail described the young man as a caring and cheerful boy.
“He was one of those kids. He couldn't be there to grieve,” his cousin told the paper.
“He was going to pick you up. He was very protective of his brothers and sisters. He adored his mother and woke her up every morning. They both made coffee and sometimes hot chocolate as well. ” she said.
Marshall Rodriguez's aunt told Fox 35 Orlando on Wednesday that the boy crawled under the school bus to grab a soccer ball, but Gail said at the vigil that no one in the family witnessed it. He is said to have said. She said Elias was an avid youth football player and dreamed of playing in the NFL when he grew up.
Elias attended third grade at nearby Lawton Chills Elementary School, where he had many friends. He was well known and well liked in the community.
“He loved being around people. He loved being outside,” Gail said. “He was well known in the area. Many parents loved him and allowed him to come to their homes.”
“We're already feeling the changes in our household. It's going to be very difficult,” the heartbroken cousin reportedly added, adding: “We just have to take it one day at a time.” That's what it means.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Elias got off the school bus in the Waterford East Apartments parking lot, becoming the last student to get off the bus that day, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
However, shortly after that, unnoticed by the 54-year-old bus driver who started the bus, the third-grade boy ran back to the vehicle and crawled under the vehicle, causing the rear tire to hit the boy and killing him. said the official.
There were no other children on the bus at the time, and the veteran bus driver remained at the scene for questioning by officers.
Elias has a mother and two siblings, one of whom is autistic and legally disabled, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up by Gail to help with her cousin's funeral and living expenses for her family. He is blind.
As of Thursday, more than $17,000 had been raised.
“His loss is truly excruciating and undeserved,” his cousin wrote. “My aunt will never be the same after this tragedy.”
