A Floyd County teenager died from a traumatic brain injury after he was struck while playing a game called “jump the car.”
Kobe Thomas died Sunday after he was struck by a car, Channel 2 Action News reported. The 16-year-old was playing “jump the car” with a group of friends when the incident happened. The game involves jumping over a car as someone drives toward you.
Thomas was “barely breathing” when his mother Demetria Almond got the call to go to the hospital, Channel 2 reported.
“I just feel like he’s an angel now,” Almond said, but she’s also concerned for others who loved him as much as she did.
“They’re saying how great he is and how much they’ll miss him,” she said. “To come back to school and one of their friends isn’t there, it’s just tough for teens and for students.”
If it wasn’t Thomas’ smile, it was his basketball skills that amazed and put family, friends and admirers alike at ease.
"If anyone could make me happy, Kobe could," former classmate Tae Hammond told the Rome News-Tribune. "If you were down, he could put a spark in you."
Thomas attended Pepperell High School before transferring to Model High prior to his junior year. Students at both schools held a vigil Monday night. His jersey, No. 22, will be retired by Pepperell, the paper reported.
Police have not released how fast the car was going or if any charges will be filed. Police have not released who was driving the car.
A GoFundMe account was set up to cover funeral costs. The account had raised $1,485 as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
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