NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 13-year-old boy died Thursday after being struck by a vehicle while riding his scooter in North Lauderdale, authorities confirmed.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the crash was reported just before 5 p.m. in the 7900 block of West McNab Road.
Deputies and North Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene, where they found the injured teen, identified by his grieving mother, Keila Gordon, as Raequon Laster.
“He is never coming back,” Gordon said. “It’s just a loss I have to live with for the rest of my life.”
According to detectives, the 27-year-old driver of a 2015 Mercedes-Benz sedan was heading east on West McNab Road in the center thru lane as the teen, who was riding a standup electric scooter, was heading west in the eastbound lanes of West McNab Road.
Deputies said the driver of the Mercedes did not see the scooter traveling toward her until it was right in front of her car.
She tried to avoid hitting the teen, but he “rode into the front passenger side of her car and was projected eastbound, coming to rest in the center thru lane,” authorities said.
The teen was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he died a short time later.
Gordon said she learned about what happened after seeing it on the news ― but never expected it to be Raequan.
She said he had just come back from classes at Silver Lakes Middle School.
“He left the house unannounced on a scooter, came up McNab, tried to find his way back home and ended up getting hit in traffic trying to cross the street,” Gordon said.
Deputies said the driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with investigators. It’s something Gordon says she’s grateful for.
“I just thank the Lord,” Gordon said. “She was like his guardian angel. She stayed there with him.”
Raequon had just turned 13, Gordon said, and was “funny,” “friendly” and “an energetic type of person.”
“(He) was just a loving child,” she said.
Gordon said she identified him through a name written on a school book in his backpack.
“Neither excessive speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in the crash,” a news release from BSO stated.