UPDATE:
Jaxson was a 3-year-old boy his family says was just simply happy. But his life was cut short after troopers say he was hit and killed in an Englewood Walmart parking lot Tuesday night.
Fox 4’s Austin Schargorodski spoke exclusively with his grandfather, who told him about his grandson.
Watch to hear from Jaxson's grandfather had to say about his happy, young grandson:
In photos the grandfather shared, you can see Jaxson smiling and growing up. His grandfather said the 3-year-old loved playing catch, football, and going to his parents’ softball games.
“He was a good kid. Like I said he was just coming into his own,” his grandfather said.
But on Tuesday night, life changed for the family. Florida Highway Patrol says Jaxson was with his mom and infant sibling in the Englewood parking lot.
Troopers say as she was putting the baby into their car, Jaxson walked away and stood in front of a Jeep parked next to them. They say when the Jeep’s driver, a 27-year-old woman, pulled forward and turned, he was hit. Jaxson was flown to a hospital in Tampa but did not survive.
“I feel sorry for her. It’s not her fault,” the grandfather said about the Jeep’s driver. “I feel bad for her, too. No ill will towards her.”
People who didn’t even know the young boy told me they haven’t stopped thinking about Jaxson’s family since they heard what happened.
“We’re both praying for them. It’s just tragic,” two neighbors said. “It’s just terrible and we all feel really bad, especially if you have grandkids like we do,” another person said.
“When I pulled in I just had to say a prayer for anyone that’s been impacted. Whether they knew the family, or especially the family,” said a fourth neighbor.
As Jaxson’s family grieves and remembers the young, happy boy, Schargorodski asked his grandfather what he would say to Jaxson right now if he could.
“Sorry we didn’t get to go fishing. He was always excited about going fishing. We just never got to go,” he said.
Florida Highway Patrol says this crash is still under investigation.
ORIGINAL REPORTING:
Family members have identified the little boy fatally hit by a car in the Englewood Walmart parking lot.
His name is Jaxson and his grandfather said Jaxson was such a happy little boy.
He told Fox 4 Community Correspondent Austin Schargorodski that he couldn't wait to teach his grandson how to fish, but now he will never have the chance.
The 3-year-old loved playing catch, football, and going to his father's softball games.
Jaxson's grandfather said his grandson was a "happy boy who was really starting to come into his own."
Jaxson was with his mother and infant sibling in the Walmart parking lot on Tuesday night.
Florida Highway Patrol said as she was putting her infant into her car, Jaxson walked in front of a Jeep and stood there.
Troopers said the 27-year-old woman driving the Jeep — which was parked next to the car — went forward, started to turn right and hit Jaxson.
Jaxson was flown to a hospital in Tampa, but he did not survive.
"I feel sorry for her, it's not her fault," the grandfather said about the driver of the Jeep ."I feel bad for her, too. No will will towards her."
The crash is under investigation.
RELATED COVERAGE: 3-year-old boy hit by car at Englewood Walmart dies at hospital: FHP
