LUTZ, Fla. — A 7-year-old boy who was riding a seated scooter died after being hit by a car in his neighborhood.
Griffey Metz was outside playing along with other children when the crash happened.
WATCH: 7-year-old boy died after being struck by car while riding a seated scooter in Lutz
The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident occurred on Cloudless Bliss Drive in Lutz on May 28 around 8:15 p.m.
Rico and Andrea Thompson said they heard cries for help followed by sirens.
"We were sitting out on our lanai just watching TV like a normal evening. It was probably around 8:00 p.m., and I heard the dad yelling, and we heard the ambulance," said Andrea Thompson, a neighbor.
The couple said the crash happened before sunset and said Griffey was always supervised by his parents.
They added the boy's father and sister witnessed the crash. They stressed that tragedy can strike any family, even the most attentive parents.
"That day, a lot of kids were outside. His dad was out there, his sister was out there, a lot of people saw it," said Andrea.
Neighbors said the driver of the Tesla stayed at the scene.
FHP troopers said the car was not operating in autopilot mode, and the driver failed to see the child.
Griffey was airlifted to a hospital, where he died two days later.
"Griffey was the life of the neighborhood. We just had another mother move in with a young son, and Griffey took her son in as a friend. He shared his scooter, his toys, the baseballs, the footballs. He was just this energetic, vivacious kid," said Rico Thompson.
The Metz family had recently moved from Ohio to Florida. The community is coming together to support them by organizing a meal train and raising funds online via a GoFundMe page.
"Always, always be there to help each other. This community has bonded together through this tragedy and that family will not have to go through this alone," said Rico.
Griffey is an organ donor and will save the lives of at least four others.
"One of them is a 7-year-old boy from Tampa who is going to receive his heart," said Andrea.
"His family called him their superhero," said Andrea.
"He's all of our superhero," added Rico.
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