Who was Eric Cox? Boy, 19, among 5 teens who died in Florida car crash wanted to be a firefighter

'As a parent, you don’t want your child to die before you,' Andrew Cox, father of Eric Cox said
UPDATED JUN 28, 2023
Eric Cox, 19, was among the five teens killed in a car crash in Fort Myers, Florida (Texas Redhouse/ Facebook)
Eric Cox, 19, was among the five teens killed in a car crash in Fort Myers, Florida (Texas Redhouse/ Facebook)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA: Five teenagers were tragically killed on Sunday night after the car they were traveling in crashed into a retention pond. Four of the five victims were working at the same steakhouse and were back from the shift when the tragedy happened on Top Golf Way in Fort Myers.

As the investigation continues, all five victims said to be between 18 and 19 years plunged into the pond after apparently losing control over a black Kia Sedan. Four of the five teens worked at the Fort Myers Texas Roadhouse. "It took a long time to get it out," according to Kristen Capuzzi, a department spokeswoman, who revealed the crash happened between 10.30 pm on Monday.   

Who is Eric Cox?

The victims have been identified as Amanda Ferguson, Eric Paul, Breanna Coleman and Jackson Eyre, and Jesus Salinas. Eric Cox, the 19-year-old from lived in Lehigh Acres, Florida, wanted to become a firefighter as per his father Andrew Cox, NBC2 reported. Cox played football and was also a wrestler. Cox had recently graduated from East Lee High School. 

"...[They] were a solid asset for our team and part of our family. They loved what they did, they came with a smile on their faces, and they have probably served the majority of the Fort Mayers community," one of the managers of Texas Roadhouse, Alan Hansen said.

'We are just dying over it'

The heartbroken father Andrew Cox visited the crash site on Monday where a memorial has been created with a large number of people arriving with flowers to honour the young lives lost in the tragic accident. "As a parent, you don’t want your child to die before you," Andrew said. He added, " Now we are at this point where we are just dying over it. Stating that they are the victims in the process of life. he shared, We’re just victims in the process of life...another cycle of life. We’re just in the moment now. As every other family could be, but now it’s our family."

'They were loved by so many people'

Many people reportedly talked about their good nature due to which everyone admired them. “They were the best friends anyone could ask for, and they were so sweet to everyone,” a person told News Nation. One more said, "They were loved by so many people. They put a smile on their faces every single day. They made their days so much better."

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