Crossing the street with his older brother, a Spring Hill 6-year-old is struck by a Kia and later pronounced dead.
By DUANE BOURNE
Published April 8, 2003
SPRING HILL - Waking up just won't be the same.
Not for Cody Cobb's mother, Dawn Jenneve; not for his father, George Cobb, who recalled Monday how the bubbly 6-year-old vaulted into their bed in the morning to wake them up.
"It's the greatest feeling," Cobb said. "He was so special."
Cody - the "Code Man," as his family called him - was struck and killed Sunday evening as he and his 15-year-old brother crossed County Line Road near their home on Sparks Road.
Authorities said that shortly after 6:30 p.m., Cody was crossing County Line Road, holding hands with his older brother, when a car driven by Nancy Hogendorp of St. Petersburg struck Cody.
The older brother was not injured in the accident.
Hogendorp was traveling east on County Line in her 2000 Kia when she hit the boy, the Florida Highway Patrol said. She was not cited for any traffic violations.
Jenneve recalled the moment when she found out that her son had been struck.
"I didn't believe it," Jenneve said, fighting back tears, her voice cracking with each word. "It's always been my worst fear."
She said the two boys often crossed County Line to play in a field.
After hearing about the accident, Cody's father sprinted up their dusty road toward County Line Road with Jenneve close behind. But she did not make it out of the yard.
"I lost my breath," she said. "I jumped into my car and put my foot to the floor. I didn't care if I hit anything. I just went."
When she arrived, emergency personnel were performing CPR on Cody.
He was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he was pronounced dead at 7:42 p.m.
Jenneve was still at the scene of the accident on County Line Road when sheriff's deputies told her that Cody, a student at Suncoast Elementary School, had died.
"He was just a good boy," she said Monday.
George Cobb shook his head Monday afternoon,his face tightening as he read the accident report from the FHP.
"Two or three times a day, he would say, "I love you, Daddy,' " Cobb said.
The 36-year-old electrician recalled how his son would run to say hello when he returned home from work each day - how he would give him hugs and kisses. "His was unconditional love," said Cobb. "I don't know. I just have to be strong for him. I'm sure that's what he would want me to do."
- Duane Bourne covers law enforcement and emergency services in Hernando County and can be ached at 754-6114. Send e-mail to dbourne@sptimes.com
[Last modified April 8, 2003, 01:31:46]
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