11-year-old boy killed in bike crash; community mourns

An 11-year-old boy died last Thursday after his electric bike crashed into a tree, according to the Charlton Police Department.

The Charlton Fire Department also responded to the scene on Jennings Road at about 3:50 p.m. and initially requested a medical helicopter for the boy, who has been identified by family and media as Brody Colon. However, due to the weather, a LifeFlight ground crew was dispatched instead to provide additional aid en route to UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Trauma Center in Worcester.

Brody was pronounced dead at the hospital. The investigation into his death remains ongoing. 

Community mourns

Over the weekend, Brody’s loss was mourned as his friends signed up for summer cheerleading and football, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

“Brody was friends with everybody,” said Levi Bates, who told the newspaper that Brody was his best friend. “He’s my favorite teammate and he started getting me into football.”

A GoFundMe, created by Brody’s aunt to support his parents, Laynie and AJ, had raised over $55,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, well beyond the original $5,000 goal. In a tribute shared on the fundraising page, Brody’s mother said he “came into this world like a firework” and loved news, history, geography, Post Malone, football, lacrosse, summer, and the beach. 

“But more than anything, Brody loved his people,” she wrote. “He loved cuddling with me, boxing with his dad, and looked up to his big brother like he hung the stars. And though he bantered non-stop with his little sister, there wasn’t a soul on earth who would have protected her more fiercely than he did. He had a small circle of close true friends who loved Brody for Brody, and he always knew that’s all he needed.”

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