Aside from the heartbreaking details surrounding a four-year-old’s death, his grieving community has rallied in support of the little boy’s bereaved loved ones, starting a GoFundMe and providing resources.
A community in southern Indiana is mourning the loss of little Maverick Lee Flinn and his great-grandmother, who both tragically lost their lives as a result of a farming accident. The incident occurred while the little boy was visiting his grandfather on a farm in Redding Township in Jackson County, northeast of Seymour, around 7:40 p.m. on Monday. Maverick was just four years old.
The tragedy unfolded swiftly on the evening of June 23, 2025, when Maverick — a boy brimming with energy and warmth, whose heart beat in rhythm with the farm life he adored — joined his great-grandfather in the cab of a combine harvester. But as he attempted to disembark from the machine, a fatal accident occurred.
Both Maverick and his 68-year-old great-grandmother were struck by a tractor. Emergency crews arrived quickly, finding them gravely injured. Maverick was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where he was sadly pronounced dead.
Maverick’s great-grandmother was flown to another hospital but succumbed to her injuries two days later on Wednesday, June 25.
The community they left behind has been shaken to its core. Sheriff Rick Meyer confirmed that the combine was indeed the machine involved, and offered heartfelt condolences in a statement from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Yet, even in the depths of unimaginable grief, love and solidarity emerged. Zach Flinn, Maverick’s uncle, shared the little boy’s pure-hearted nature. “It was in his blood,” he divulged of Maverick’s affinity for farming. “But just so energetic, so loving, never met someone that he didn’t want to give a hug to.”
In the wake of the accident, the family has been flooded with support. Neighbors and friends didn’t hesitate to bring food, lend equipment, and offer manpower to help with the wheat harvest.
What would have taken nearly two weeks to complete was done in just 24 hours — a feat of compassion and collective strength.
“By Tuesday morning, it was… I can’t even explain how many had reached out or called,” Zach reflected. “It was unreal. It’s absolutely incredible what this community has done, and if it was [sic] on the flip side, we’d have been there for somebody else.”
Aside from farming, firefighting runs through the Flinn bloodline — Maverick’s father and grandfather both serve as firefighters. In a touching gesture of unity, Indiana State Fire Marshal Steve Jones, to whom Maverick and Zach’s family personally reached out, pledged to attend Maverick’s funeral. The service was scheduled for Monday, June 30.
“Letting the families know, letting the firefighters know at Seymour Fire Department, I really care for them, and this part of the job is where the heart gets involved,” the marshal said.
From this tragedy, a powerful legacy is beginning to take shape. In honor of Maverick’s memory, the family has introduced the “Maverick Minute” — a call for farmers and workers to pause and assess their surroundings before operating machinery.
“The ‘Maverick Minute’ is going to be something that is not just safety, but it’s going to be to remember him,” Zach explained.Though nothing can fill the void left behind, the outpouring of love, the family’s strength, and Maverick’s enduring spirit promise that he and his great-grandmother will never be forgotten.
As the family continues to grapple with their heartbreaking loss, their surrounding community has swiftly stepped in — not only with their hands and harvesters, but with heartfelt generosity.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist the Flinn family through this unimaginable time, and the response has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Accompanied by a radiant photo of Maverick — smiling widely and eyes lit with joy — the fundraiser has captured hearts across the region and beyond.
“Raising money for the Flinn Family,” the campaign message reads, “and per the obituary, donations can also be made to the Maverick Lee Flinn Playground Fund at Immanuel Lutheran Child Care Ministry (ILCCM). Join the Trinity Alumni community in wrapping our arms around them. If you are unable to donate, please continue to pray for the whole Flinn Family.”
What began as a modest goal of $5,000 has since swelled into a testament of compassion, raising over $77,000 and counting.
In the days following the accident, Maverick’s family penned a touching online tribute — a loving portrait of a life so brief, yet overflowing with joy, spirit, and purpose. The obituary paints Maverick as a “beloved child of God” whose presence radiated love and light to all who knew him.
From the moment he was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Maverick was immersed in a life of faith. As a regular at church services, he could often be found in the pews with a toy tractor in hand, not just playing, but cheerfully sharing his treasures with children and adults nearby.
