NEED TO KNOW
- A father and his 1-year-old son died after they were hit by a car while crossing the street in Jacksonville, Fla. on May 16
- Mitchell Patch was an elementary school math teacher, whose students “will miss him tremendously,” the principal said
- Patch’s wife and family are “heartbroken,” the wife’s employer wrote on a GoFundMe page
A mom is grieving after her husband and 1-year-old son were killed while crossing the street in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mitchell Patch, an elementary school math teacher, was walking across Baymeadows Road with his son, Everett, when they were hit by a Honda Civic traveling eastbound at 8:30 p.m. local time on Friday, May 16. Emergency responders pronounced the father and child dead at the scene, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital and is cooperating with officials. Officer Max Morel confirmed the names of the father and son and told PEOPLE the investigation is ongoing.
“Our hearts are with the family and friends of the man and his child,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement.
Duval County Public Schools, Patch’s employer, and the City of Jacksonville Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
That evening, Patch attended a party at a restaurant. He was holding his toddler in his arms when he crossed the road, Morel confirmed.
“We were in the middle of a rush when it happened. Next thing you know, we just started seeing flashing lights. It started getting bigger. So we kind of figured something more intense happened,” Dylan Williams, manager at Wicked Barley Brewing Company, told local outlet WJXT.
“We had a large group of family members mourning,” he added. “It was very tragic.”
The fatal accident has renewed safety concerns for residents in the area, the outlet reported.
For Patch’s wife, Mary, it’s an “unimaginable” tragedy, her employer wrote in a GoFundMe created to cover funeral expenses. As of Wednesday, May 23, the page has raised more than $120,000, close to its $125,000 goal. The organizer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“This devastating loss has left her and her family heartbroken,” the employer wrote of the death of Mitchell and their son, who is identified as Everett.
Bayview Elementary, where Mitchell worked, sent a message to the school’s families from Principal Kelly York the day after the accident.
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“We will all certainly remember Mr. Patch for his incredible commitment to students and to the teaching profession. He was a dedicated educator and a well-loved and respected member of our Brave family,“ York wrote in the message, which was shared with WJXT. ”Our sympathies go out to Mr. Patch’s family, friends and our entire school community during this difficult time.”
She added, “I am deeply saddened, and I know the students, staff and family members who knew Mr. Patch will miss him tremendously.”
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