A family in Marion Oaks is heartbroken and searching for answers after a terrible accident left their teenage son in a coma.
On December 26, 2025, 15-year-old Jermaine Bridges was riding his scooter along Southwest Highway 484 when he was hit by a car. The accident happened just one day after Christmas, and the family is still struggling to come to terms with what happened.
Jermaine’s grandmother, Carla King, shared how the family knew something was wrong. “His godbrothers noticed he hadn’t come back yet,” she explained. “They were outside looking for him and saw an ambulance coming down the street. They had a feeling it was about him.”
Jermaine’s mother, Teshayna Bennett, said he was on his way to Dollar General on his new scooter, which he’d just gotten as a Christmas gift. It was already dark when he left, but his scooter lights were on. Later, his family found him facedown in the woods after the crash.
Jermaine was rushed to UF Shands in Gainesville, where doctors discovered he had suffered brain trauma and multiple strokes. He remains in a coma, fighting for his life.
The family has been desperately trying to get answers from Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers. They’ve been reaching out nearly every day since the accident but say they only heard back on Monday. According to Carla King, an FHP trooper told her the crash was Jermaine’s fault and that the case was now closed.
Media reached out to FHP for a statement, but they directed reporters to their website to request the crash report.
Jermaine’s family is left with more questions than answers, and they’re hoping for clarity and justice as they navigate this devastating situation. This is an ongoing story, and updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
