A tragic scooter accident in North Lauderdale has claimed the life of 13-year-old Raequon Laster, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Laster was hit by a car while riding an electric scooter on the 7900 block of West McNab Road just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, tragically in an area less than a mile from his school, Silver Lakes Middle School. WSVN reports that the impact with a 2015 Mercedes Benz sedan, driven by a 27-year-old woman heading eastbound, sent Raequon flying onto the center lane where he was later discovered by first responders.
Despite the 27-year-old driver's attempt to avert the fatal collision, Raequon collided with the front passenger side of the Mercedes, and after the dramatic incident, he was transported to Broward Health Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries; his family is now compelled to prepare for his funeral instead of celebrating birthdays or cherishing their time together. "There’s a white vehicle here, and it has stopped. Let’s see if there is any front damage on it," WSVN’s SkyForce reporter Ralph Rayburn said, showcasing the damage to the vehicle involved in the crash.
Raequon's parents are reeling from their loss, with Keila Gordon, the boy's mother, recounting the heart-wrenching moment she learned of her son's fate at the hospital. "I immediately dropped to the floor on my knees," she said, "I screamed. I cried. On my way there I remember saying a prayer for him and praying that he would recover by the time I get there, and unfortunately, he just didn't," Gordon told NBC6. The investigation by BSO Traffic Homicide Unit detectives is ongoing, and they have indicated that neither excessive speed nor impairment were considered factors in this tragic event.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the passing of young Raequon who had dreams of joining the military and the family tries to preserve the memories of their son who was known for his love for school and a bright smile which now seems to symbolize a future unjustly cut short, while the family also faces the financial burden as revealed by the GoFundMe page set up to assist with the funeral costs; Rodney Laster, Raequon’s father, emphasized his efforts to keep his kids, especially Raequon who had autism, safe in a dangerous world but now has to face the devastation of outliving his son. "His room is still the same," Gordon said. "Everything here is still the same. Nothing out of place. Because we want to keep that memory that he was here," she stated in a NBC6 interview.
