“He Was Only Five”: A Family’s Heartbreak After Little Simon Gonzalez Was Killed by a School Bus.5770
STANDISH, Maine — The story of Simon Gonzalez, a lively and joyful 5-year-old boy, turned to tragedy this week when he was struck and killed by a school bus. His death has sent ripples of grief through his family, friends, and the community of Standish, Maine.
Simon’s grandfather, Jason Small, spoke candidly about the unimaginable pain the family is enduring, and how they are coping with the loss of a child who was not only loved deeply but was full of life.
Simon, a kindergartner, was tragically killed on Tuesday, December 12, when he was struck by a school bus just half a mile from his school, Edna Libby Elementary.
The impact of the crash left Simon unresponsive, and despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I took down all the Christmas ornaments. I took the Christmas tree down,” Jason Small, Simon’s grandfather, said, speaking to the emotional toll the loss has taken. “It’s just, we couldn’t do it mentally.”
The tragedy has left the family in shock, struggling to process the loss and find a way to say goodbye to a boy who brought so much joy into their lives.
Simon’s love for life was clear to everyone who knew him. He had a passion for outdoor activities such as camping, snowmobiling, and ice fishing, and he even found joy in helping with mundane tasks like mowing the lawn.
His grandfather recalled, “He was a lifesaver that I needed from destroying myself. He was my sidekick.”
But despite his bright and adventurous spirit, Simon’s life was cut short in a cruel twist of fate.
The Accident: A Family’s Worst Nightmare
The accident occurred on the afternoon of December 12, when Simon was on his way home from school. He was waiting near the bus stop, just a short distance from his home, when the school bus, which was driven by a 64-year-old woman, hit him.
At the time, Simon’s half-brother was also on the bus but was not physically harmed in the incident.
The bus driver, whose name has not been released, was placed on administrative leave as part of the standard procedure during the ongoing investigation.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has stated that no charges have been filed against the bus driver at this time, but the investigation remains active.
In the days following the tragic accident, Simon’s family struggled with the sheer weight of what had occurred.
His grandfather spoke about how he had tried to protect Simon, how he felt responsible for his safety, but ultimately felt helpless in the face of such a sudden, horrific loss.
The Aftermath: Grieving and Advocacy
In the wake of Simon’s death, the Gonzalez family is left grappling with grief and devastation. The shock of losing Simon, especially in such a violent and sudden manner, has left them feeling adrift.
Jason Small recalled how the family tried to carry on with their traditions, even as they faced the heart-wrenching reality of Simon’s death.
“We won’t be celebrating Christmas this year,” he said, explaining how the loss overshadowed the festive spirit. The family has been forced to navigate life without Simon, a boy who had been the light of their lives.
As the family comes to terms with their grief, they are also pushing for change. The circumstances surrounding Simon’s death have led them to call for stricter regulations surrounding school buses to prevent future tragedies.
The family is advocating for a bill that would improve the safety of school buses in Maine and beyond, ensuring that no other family has to go through what they have endured.
“We need to make sure that they get to go home to their family for Christmas,” Jason Small said, speaking about the urgency of ensuring that school buses are safer for children across the nation.
His words reflect the deep desire to honor Simon’s memory by creating lasting change that could save other children’s lives.
The Call for Safer School Buses
Simon’s tragic death has sparked conversations about how school buses can be made safer for children. Family friend Alishia Sessions has joined the call for action, expressing a hope that Simon’s death will serve as a catalyst for change.
“There needs to be a change not just in Maine, but the whole United States,” Sessions said. “I’m hoping we can get it passed in Maine to create stricter requirements for buses. We need to do the work to make sure they are safe.”
The family’s request for safer school buses goes beyond just their own grief. They want to ensure that children in Maine, and across the nation, have the protection they deserve when traveling to and from school.
They are working tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for legislation that would improve the standards for school bus safety, including better safety features and more thorough driver training.
The Community’s Reaction: Outpouring of Support
In the wake of Simon’s death, the community has rallied around his family, offering support, condolences, and love. The grief felt by Simon’s family is shared by the community, as people who knew Simon reflect on his lively spirit and the impact he had on those around him.
Simon’s classmates, teachers, and neighbors are all mourning the loss of a young boy who brought joy to their lives.
Memorials and vigils have been organized to honor Simon’s memory, and many are coming together to support the family during this difficult time.
The outpouring of love and solidarity has provided the family with some comfort, as they know that Simon’s life made a difference in the hearts of many.
Despite the immense pain they are experiencing, the family is determined to turn Simon’s death into something meaningful.
They are pushing for change, ensuring that Simon’s legacy will not be defined by tragedy alone, but by the hope for a safer future for all children.
The Impact of Simon’s Death: A Wake-Up Call
Simon’s death serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of children and the importance of ensuring their safety.
The tragic accident brings to light the risks that children face when traveling to and from school and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such accidents from happening in the future.
As the family continues to process their grief, they are committed to making sure that Simon’s death is not in vain.
They are speaking out for change, advocating for safer school buses, and hoping that their efforts will lead to meaningful reforms that could prevent similar tragedies.
A Legacy of Love and Change
In the end, Simon’s story is one of love, loss, and the fight for justice. While his family faces a long road ahead as they cope with the pain of his death, they are determined to honor Simon’s life by ensuring that no other child faces the same fate.
Simon’s legacy will live on in the efforts to make school buses safer and in the memories of those who knew him.
For Simon’s family, friends, and community, the loss is unimaginable, but they are finding strength in their love for Simon and in their shared determination to create a world where children are protected and safe
. As they push for change, they hold onto the hope that Simon’s memory will continue to inspire others to take action and work for a safer future for all children.
“In an Instant, Christmas Was Gone: The Night a Car Destroyed the Threlkeld Family’s Home”.5748
In an instant, everything can change.
For Tiera and Greg Threlkeld, what began as a peaceful, hopeful night quickly transformed into an unimaginable nightmare, forever altering the course of their lives.
Their home in the Ivy Glen neighborhood, a place that should have provided comfort and security for their family, became the site of an unimaginable tragedy.
It was just another typical December evening for the Threlkelds.
They had spent the evening wrapping presents, decorating, and enjoying the simple pleasures that come with preparing for the Christmas season.
Their home was warm and filled with laughter as they made plans to celebrate the holiday with their three children, including their four-month-old baby.
But all of that changed when, at around 3 a.m. on December 23, 2025, a car crashed into their home.
The vehicle barreled through the garage, tearing apart the living room and crashing into the back of the house, where both of the Threlkeld daughters’ bedrooms were located.
The force of the impact was so strong that it ripped through walls, leaving destruction in its wake.
Amidst the chaos, Tiera’s heart stopped when she realized that her infant, who had been sleeping in the living room, was buried beneath the debris.
In an instant, her mind raced through a thousand worst-case scenarios.
Would her baby be okay? Was she alive?
Miraculously, the baby had survived the catastrophic crash, but the devastation was far from over.
As Tiera rushed to assess the situation, she saw that her family was in the midst of a horrific crisis.
The house, which once stood as a sanctuary, was now an unrecognizable wreck.
Their Christmas presents, which had been stored carefully in the garage, were gone, destroyed along with their belongings.
The living room, where the family had spent countless hours together, had been obliterated.
The bedrooms, once filled with the laughter and dreams of their children, were now rendered uninhabitable.
As the situation unfolded, Tiera and Greg found themselves in a state of shock and disbelief, unsure of what to do or how to begin picking up the pieces of their shattered world.
To make matters worse, the trauma was compounded by the fact that their two older children, Shertahnie and Caleb, had been staying with their father that night.
This separation further complicated the situation, making it harder for the family to find comfort and unity during such an emotional time.
In the days that followed, Tiera and Greg had to come to terms with the fact that they had been displaced—forced to leave their home and begin living out of a hotel room.
The family, once living in a place filled with memories, was now scattered and divided, each family member coping with the emotional and physical impact of the tragedy in their own way.
The immediate challenge they faced was far more than just the destruction of their home.
The Threlkeld family was now without basic necessities, like clothes, food, and other essentials.
They had no place to go, no way to provide for their children in a way they were accustomed to.
Despite the fact that insurance would eventually help with the damage, it couldn’t provide the immediate relief they so desperately needed.
Christmas was meant to be a time of celebration, a time to gather together as a family and share in the joy of the season.
But for the Threlkelds, that joy had been replaced with uncertainty, fear, and a feeling of helplessness.
They were living in limbo, unsure of when they would be able to return to some semblance of normalcy.
And all the while, they remained separated from their two older children, who were staying with their father during this chaotic period.
The emotional toll of not being together as a family during such a traumatic time weighed heavily on Tiera and Greg.
But the Threlkelds were determined to hold it together, for their children, for each other, and for the future.
This is where the power of community support comes in.
While the family knew that the road to recovery would be long and difficult, they understood that they could not navigate it alone.
The kindness of others, whether through donations, support, or just a simple act of kindness, could make all the difference as they began the process of rebuilding their lives.
The Threlkelds needed more than just material support.
They needed the comfort of knowing that their community stood behind them.
They needed to feel the warmth of love and generosity, especially in the hardest of times.
And, through it all, there was hope.
Despite the overwhelming obstacles they were facing, the Threlkelds remained hopeful that with the support of their community, they could begin to rebuild their lives and restore some sense of stability and security.
Tiera and Greg’s situation is a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change.
One moment, they were preparing for a joyful Christmas with their family, and the next, they were facing the devastation of losing their home and possessions in a tragic accident.
But even in the face of such hardship, they continue to move forward, one day at a time.
They know that the journey ahead will be challenging, but they are committed to staying strong for their children and providing them with the love and stability they need during this uncertain time.
What the Threlkeld family needs most right now is the support of their community.
They need help securing the basic necessities that so many of us take for granted—clothing, food, toiletries, and other essentials that they need to survive day to day.
They need support in getting back on their feet, in rebuilding their lives, and in finding a place where they can heal, both physically and emotionally.
And they need to know that they are not alone—that they are supported by a community of people who care about them and are willing to help in any way they can.
The Threlkeld family’s tragedy is not just their own.
It is a reminder that disaster can strike at any time, and that we are all vulnerable to the unexpected.
But it is also a reminder of the power of human kindness and the importance of coming together in times of need.
The Threlkelds may have lost their home, but they have not lost their love for each other, and they have not lost their ability to persevere through the darkest of times.
With the support of their community, they will find their way back to a place of comfort, security, and hope.
As we approach the new year, let’s remember the importance of showing compassion to those who are struggling.
Let’s offer our help, our kindness, and our love to those in need.
Together, we can help the Threlkeld family rebuild their lives and give them the support they need to move forward.
This holiday season, let’s show the Threlkelds the warmth of Christmas, even in the hardest of times.
Together, we can make a difference in their journey.