COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A community in East Cobb is rallying behind a family who lost their son in a tragic accident.
Blake Mahoney, 11, died on Sunday.
Police say Mahoney crashed his bike into a neighbor’s car on Lucky Drive. According to the police report, the neighbor, who was driving a Volvo SUV, was approaching a sharp left curve on Lucky Drive when the boy made a sharp right turn and crashed into the front of the car. The driver is not facing charges.
Now, the community is rallying around the boy’s family.
“Hang in there. Your community loves you. Eastvalley loves you. We’re here for you if you need anything,” said Jennifer Swafford.
Swafford teaches fifth grade at Eastvalley Elementary School. Mahoney was her student.
“He said, ‘I’m going to be a professional baseball player. That was his dream,’” said Swafford.
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On Tuesday, Swafford told Channel 2’s Chris Jose that counselors had a virtual meeting with Mahoney’s classmates. The meeting lasted for an hour and the class shared happy memories, Swafford said.
“It was absolutely devastating and tragic,” said Swafford. “When we all heard the news, literally, it took our breath away. We all gasped.”
Swafford set up a GoFundMe page for Mahoney’s family. Mahoney’s older brother is a student at Wheeler High School. Mahoney’s mother, Dawn, is a nurse at Eastvalley Elementary.
“It’s just surreal. We can’t go hug her, our school nurse, and tell her that we are here and love her. That’s what is hard,” said Swafford. “We all need to have that time of togetherness and show them how a huge community loves Blake and really cared for him. He was a great, great kid.”