Boy tries to revive brother after semi strikes, kills him on Landstar Boulevard

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities have identified a child who was struck and killed by a semitruck Wednesday morning as he and his brother were riding their bikes to school in Orange County.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said 6-year-old Jaden Vasquez Vallejo, his brother and two friends were walking their bikes across a crosswalk on their way to Meadow Woods Elementary School about 8 a.m. when the accident happened.

The driver of the truck was identified as Raiford Reynolds, 47, of Winter Haven.

Channel 9 reporter Jeff Deal said Raiford appeared distraught as he spoke with FHP troopers at the scene.

According to troopers, Reynolds was driving a flatbed hauling wood roof frames on the exit ramp from northbound State Road 417 to Landstar Boulevard. As he came down the ramp and was making a turn onto southbound Landstar, a part of his truck struck and ran over the Jaden, troopers said.

Authorities said they believe the boy's brother, a fifth grader, actually tried to lift the semitrailer off of the child. Troopers said he also tried to revive his younger brother at the scene but it was no use.

Jaden was taken to Nemours Children's Hospital where he died.

Troopers said Reynolds told them he didn't see the children, he just felt a bump beneath the truck.

"It appears the boys were doing everything required of them," said Sgt. Kim Montes of the FHP. "Right now troopers are trying to piece together exactly where the point of collision was."

FHP troopers are investigating the accident. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call them at 407-737-2213.

WFTV