LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — A 13-year-old boy died Monday morning, six days after crashing his dirt bike into a car while leaving a school, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.
The child was identified as Kareem Hodge, of Loxahatchee, in the crash report.
The crash was reported at 6:18 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Acreage Pines Elementary School. He died at 11:38 a.m. at St. Mary's Medical Center, according to an updated crash report.
Deputies said the boy was riding a 2021 Yamaha dirt bike illegally on the sidewalk of Orange Boulevard and was approaching the service exit of the school when he crashed into a Nissan Murano driven by a 54-year-old man also leaving the school.
According to the report, the collision sent the boy into the hood of the car before he landed on the road.
The driver remained at the scene.
Rescue crews took the boy to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery and was in critical condition at the time.
The boy's aunt, Natanya Richardson, told WPTV reporter Ethan Stein that the boy's mother lost her husband six months ago.
"The family would like to thank the community for their thoughts and prayers," Hodge said in a statement.
Family members also thanked Western Pines Middle School, the staff at St. Mary's Medical Center and the Youth Group at Christ Fellowship of Westlake.
A makeshift memorial was starting near the crash site, including flowers and messages.
The family friend has created a GoFundMe page.
"In loving memory of Kareem Hodge, a bright soul whose time with us was cut short unexpectedly," the page said. "Kareem brought laughter and happiness to everyone he met, and his absence leaves a profound sadness in our hearts."
