LAKE NONA, FLa. – An emotional vigil was held Friday evening at Heroes Community Park in Lake Nona for a 13-year-old student who died days after an e-bike crash.
Family members, teammates, coaches and classmates gathered on the football field to honor Colton Remsburg, who died this week from injuries he suffered in a crash Sunday.
Chaston Williams, director of football for Lake Nona Youth Sports, said he coached Colton for several years and remembered the teen as someone who brought energy and joy to practices.
“You grow accustomed to them being in your lives. Coaching them,” Williams said.
“As soon as I heard of his accident and passing, I immediately started writing. He meant something to me. I haven’t coached him in a couple years, but all these athletes mean something to me.”
During the vigil, hundreds stood together at the center of the field alongside Colton’s family.
“Colton, you know, he liked to goof off in practice and I really enjoyed Colton,” Williams said. “He made things brighter.”
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Colton was riding his e-bike along Moss Park Road on Sunday when he was hit by a Dodge pickup truck.
Troopers said Colton was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital with serious injuries, where he died several days later. Investigators said the driver remained at the scene and was not injured.
Orange County Public Schools said grief counselors have been available at Innovation Middle School, where Colton attended.
In the days following the crash, leaders with Lake Nona Youth Sports said they also want to see changes aimed at improving e-bike safety for teens.
“We are going to start a movement to make the change that pretty much everyone I talk to knows is needing, but it just hasn’t been done,” said Jason Kleiner, president of Lake Nona Youth Sports.
“This is going to be the lightning rod that brings out change to fruition,” Kleiner said.
Kleiner said many in the community believe safety changes are needed but said discussions are only beginning.
“I think that we all realize and have known for some time that some change needs to happen and where that change starts and where it goes, we are not sure,” he said.
Lake Nona Youth Sports officials said Colton had been looking forward to playing tackle football with the league this fall.