Little Boy Dies in Hospital at Just 4 Years Old — His Grandmother Speaks Out

A tragic accident ended a young child's life and sparked a grandmother's outrage over the circumstances surrounding his death.

Calvin Spurlock, a four-year-old from Missouri, died after a motorcycle crash in St. Peters. The accident, which occurred Sunday, April 6, 2025, left the driver critically injured and raised questions about custody decisions, court orders, and who was responsible for allowing Calvin in the vehicle.

The boy and his mother's boyfriend were riding a motorcycle when they hit a utility pole. The crash occurred on westbound Mexico Road, near Belleau Creek Road, and both were wearing helmets. The boy later died at a hospital.

St. Peters police said the accident is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed. It has not yet been determined if speed played a role in this case.

Janet Bond, Calvin's paternal grandmother, expressed her frustration and heartbreak, stating she is "livid" the boy was allowed on the motorcycle. "It makes me very angry," she added, particularly because Calvin had previously been in another motorcycle crash with the same man but was not injured.

After that previous accident, a judge ruled in January that the child could only ride with someone who had a valid driver's license. However, investigators have not confirmed whether the man involved in Sunday's crash had one.

Calvin lived with his mother, Haley Perez, who had custody, while his father, James Spurlock of Affton, was seeking joint custody in St. Louis County. The name of the driver has not been released by police.

Bond took to social media, asking witnesses to share whether anyone stayed with Calvin after the crash. Two people responded and told her they remained with him until paramedics arrived. "They did give him comfort," she said.

The boy, who would have turned five in August, attended the Goddard School in St. Peters. A vigil will be held in his memory at 7 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Fort Zumwalt South High School, 8050 Mexico Road.

"He was my best friend," Bond said. "We did 'Cookies with Calvin.' He loved to cook with me."

An obituary shared by Baue Funeral Homes described Calvin as "a fearless boy with a heart that was always ready for the next adventure," who loved everything from bikes and monster trucks to dancing at bubble parties.

He cherished Friday morning dates to Panera with his mother and had a dream of becoming a mailman. His joy for life, it read, was "truly contagious."

The tribute also noted that Calvin is survived by his parents, grandparents, other loved ones, and his furry friend and "sister," Athena. Finally, the obituary pointed people towards their fundraising campaign.

The GoFundMe page launched by Tracy Fehrenbacher, a longtime friend of Calvin's grandmother, is asking for $8,000 to support the family. As of this writing, the page has raised over $3,000.

Fehrenbacher wrote that the funds would help with therapy, bills, and potentially pushing for new safety regulations under the banner of "#calvinslaw." She called the crash a "senseless loss of life that could have been 100% avoidable had the law been followed."

Our deepest condolences go out to Bond and her family. Losses like this remind us of the fragility of life and the many other tragedies that touch communities. Just days earlier, people were mourning the loss of a 13-year-old who was found dead after being reported missing.

Moreover, on Friday morning, April 4, 2025, Gabriel Andrews and his older sister were walking to their regular pickup spot in the Hickory Hills area of Frankfort, Kentucky, when he slipped and was swept away by fast-moving water.

The incident was reported at 6:35 a.m., and a large-scale emergency response was launched. Search crews located Gabriel’s body around 8:47 a.m., approximately half a mile from where he was last seen. The Franklin County Coroner's Office confirmed his death at 9:16 a.m.

Gabriel had just turned nine on April 1, just three days before the tragedy. He lived with his mother, Racheal Tibbs Andrews, who is widowed. Residents of the area explained that children in Gabriel's apartment complex must cross a drainage channel to reach their bus stop. On that particular morning, the area was flooded.

The news of his death brought shock and sorrow to the school and local community. Gabriel's teacher, Kasey Swails, posted, "The sweetest Bindi Boy 💚 we love you always Gabe." Another message from teacher Hannah Clark read, "Long live this sweet boy 🩵 prayers for his family!"

In a separate message, Kasey shared what Gabriel meant to her class. "My favorite part of being a teacher is who I share my classroom with. Something I pride myself on is the community I build within my four walls. By May, we are more than just a class, we are a classroom family," she wrote.

She continued, "Today, an important part of that classroom family was taken from us. The sweetest, kindest boy who was impossible not to love. Who loved basketball and anything to do with a police car, who tried his best at any task given to him. Who was a friend to all.[..] Today has been the most heartbreaking day in my teaching career."

Franklin County Schools confirmed that Gabriel was one of their students. "We are deeply saddened at this horrific tragedy that claimed the life of one of our students," the district said in a statement. "We are eternally grateful for our community first responders[…] who selflessly responded to assist in this situation."

Frankfort Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracy held a briefing later that day, joined by officials including Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson and Franklin County Judge Michael Mueller. The Assistant Chief of Police stated, "Our hearts are with our entire community during this time."

Mayor Wilkerson added, "A tragedy such as this is felt by our entire community and we all grieve together." Judge Mueller also offered condolences and thanked emergency personnel. "We offer our thoughts and prayers as they go through this time," he said.

The incident occurred as rounds of heavy rain moved through the region. Several parts of the Midwest and South were under warnings for torrential rains and flash floods. Satellite imagery showed storm activity across Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

In the days leading up to April 4, tornadoes in the region had already destroyed neighborhoods and claimed lives. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned residents about the dangers of rising water.

Following the incident, the district's decision to continue classes despite the weather came under scrutiny. Caitlin Green, the mother of one of Gabriel's classmates, questioned the move. "The rain was coming down hard. They had already called off certain bus routes in the area due to flooded roadways," she told a CNN affiliate.

On the morning of April 4, Franklin County Schools announced the cancellation of two bus routes — Bus 59 and Bus 11 — serving areas including Peaksmill, Switzer, Hamilton Camp Pleasant, Snavely Road, and Lucas Lane.

The district noted that any students affected by the transportation changes would have excused absences. However, schools remained open for the day. Later that afternoon, the district responded to rumors circulating on social media, clarifying through School Safety Coordinator Captain Abrams.

"We are hearing rumors that some social media posts are falsely reporting that some FCS Schools are in lockdown. This is False. All schools are operating normally and there are no lockdowns in the district," the post read.

The community continues to mourn the loss of Gabriel Andrews, a young boy remembered by those who knew him as kind, joyful, and full of promise.