'A love for life': Hundreds gather to remember Wellington student killed in crash

Yahoo

13-02-2025

WELLINGTON — Woodland Middle School chorus teacher Danielle Fuente recalled the first time she met Landon Coggin, describing him as a shy, quiet sixth-grader trying to find his classes on the first day of school.
Then, on Day Two, she met the "real" Landon — "an energetic, talkative goofball with a love for life," she told hundreds who gathered Wednesday evening for a celebration of life service at the Wellington Amphitheater.
Family, friends and members of the community gathered to remember Landon, a 13-year-old Woodlands Middle School Student who died the afternoon of Jan. 30 when a truck hit him and another student, Elias G. Angel, 12, near the campus on Lyons Road.
The boys had fallen into the roadway when their bicycles became entangled while riding home from school.
Those attending Wednesday's celebration of life shared hugs and stories as they gathered in remembrance. Many lit candles as dusk turned to dark.
"His 13 years may have been brief, but his impact on us is something that will last forever," said Sean Lavender, a pastor at Life Church in Wellington. "Landon was a young man whose spirit shone brightly in everything he did, whether through his laughter, his kindness or the way he care for those around him."
Fuente recalled Landon's playful nature and his hidden talent for singing.
"He was the type of student who it didn't matter where I sat him in class — he would find someone to talk to," she said.
Fuente said Landon developed a passion for singing during his three years in chorus, joining two classmates last fall in earning spots in Palm Beach County's Tenor Day and performing with about 100 middle and high school students.
But not everyone knew about Landon's singing ability, Fuente said.
"He often threatened to drop out of chorus if I ever told anyone outside of chorus that he could actually sing," she said. "Well, Landon, I'm sorry but I do have to expose you. That boy could sing."
Previous coverage: One boy dead, another injured after bicycles, truck crash near Woodlands Middle School
Wednesday's celebration included calls for traffic safety improvements in school zones. A petition on the website change.org created in the wake of the wreck has attained more than 2,000 signatures supporting calls for changes such as the installation of barriers near bicycle lanes. Several people added their names Wednesday evening.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigators said a Peterbilt semitruck hit Landon and Elias after both fell into the roadway. Elias received treatment for serious injuries at Delray Medical Center.
"There should be things to protect our children, protect people in bike lanes," said Darryl Kogan, an attorney and a longtime family friend who worked with Landon's grandmother.
"It's such a tragedy that we had a great kid here whose not here with us now, but hopefully something good can come in his memory."
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Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [e-mail] and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Celebration of Life honors Woodlands Middle student killed in crash