SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — A man riding an ATV lost control and struck a 56-year-old man and a 2-year-old boy in Sumter County on Sunday, troopers said.
Investigators said the two were watching the ATV illegally race another when the driver struck them near State Road 235 in Wildwood.
The boy, Jakhyrian Graham, died from his injuries.
Neighbors told Channel 9 that the illegal street races have been going on every weekend for weeks now.
"I'm just heartbroken," neighbor Noel Williams said.
Williams took balloons and stuffed animals to the crash site to start a memorial for the child, whose nickname was Daddy.
"When I saw that on Facebook, it touched me," she said. "I couldn't rest last night. I was tossing and turning and praying."
Troopers said Graham was among spectators who were watching the illegal ATV race near Northeast Sixth Street.
Residents said that sometimes hundreds of people show up for the races.
"We heard all the fire engines and the emergency wagons, and we knew something had happened," neighbor Hattie Singleton said.
Investigators said that during the race, Terry Killings Jr., who was driving the ATV, swerved to avoid hitting a child who had run out into the street. He went off the road and into the crowd, striking the toddler and Johnny Williams.
Emergency crews rushed Killings, Williams and Graham to the hospital, but the child died a short time later.
There was no word on Killings' or Williams' conditions.
Residents said the boy's death shows how dangerous the street races can be and that they need to be stopped.
"This was an accident waiting to happen," neighbor Clifford Dunlap said.
Trooper said the wrecked ATV was taken away from the scene after the crash before they could take a look at it.
WFTV
