Rome City community mourns death of 9-year-old after bicycle crash

ROME CITY, Ind. (WANE) - A community is mourning the loss of a young boy who passed away suddenly after being involved in a bicycle crash. Last week, 9-year-old Tucker was involved in a bicycle crash at the corner of Jackson Street and Grove Street near the boy's home, where he ran into a car, according to the Orange County Fire Department. The accident placed Tucker in the hospital as he worked to heal, but unfortunately, Tucker passed on Sunday due to a medical emergency. As a beloved member of the community, Tucker's death shocked residents in Rome City who knew the boy and his family. In response to the tragedy, the Orange Township officials, alongside the Rome City Elementary school, came together to organize a candlelight vigil in honor of Tucker. The vigil will take place on Monday at 10 p.m. at the Rome City Elementary School at 400 Jefferson Street. "We encourage everyone to come. We only have 400 candles, but just to be there and to show what a 9-year-old can do for a community, bringing us together," said Orange Township Fire Chief Gene Landers. Tucker is remembered as a well-known, kind, inquisitive boy who loves baseball, God, and helping others. "I had the pleasure of reading to him at the school during 'Real Men Read', and he was always inquisitive, always had great information, and it's a significant loss to our community," said Chief Landers. Tucker's death came suddenly and turned the tight-knit community upside down. In a time of mourning and low spirits, the vigil was organized to allow the community to do what Tucker loved the most: helping people out. A second event geared towards bicycle safety is scheduled for July 18th at Gordon's Camp Ground, 9500 West 600th South in Wolcottville, where bicycle helmets will be given away to children in hopes of preventing an incident like this from ever happening again.