An Indiana family and community are mourning the unexpected loss of a child. Maverick Flinn was a much-loved preschooler who sadly lost his life in a tragic accident. Coming from a family of farmers, he loved being outdoors on the farm. Sadly, it was his love of farming that led to his death.
Maverick was out on a tractor with his great-grandfather when he was involved in a farming accident. Ultimately the accident also claimed the life of his great-grandmother.
Jackson County police responded to a call around 7:40 p.m. on June 23, 2025, People reported. When they arrived at the farm near Redding Township in southern Indiana, they found that 4-year-old Maverick Flinn and his great-grandmother, Nancy Fox, had been hit by a tractor. Maverick was taken to a local medical center, where he was pronounced dead. Fox, 68, was flown to a hospital, where she died from her injuries on June 25.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family and all involved,” Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer said in a statement. The incident is currently under investigation.
WTHR reported that Maverick wanted to ride the combine with his great-grandfather. As he got out of the tractor, he and Fox, who was known as “Nanny,” were involved in an accident. No additional details about what the accident entailed have been released.
The boy’s uncle, Zach Flinn, spoke with WTHR about his nephew, saying farming was “in his blood.” According to Zach Flinn, the little boy was “so energetic, so loving, never met someone that he didn’t want to give a hug to.”
According to his obituary, Maverick Flinn was “full of joy and curiosity,” and “made friends easily.” He loved spending time outside, “running around with a smile, swimming, and exploring the farm, to pillow fights, racing monster trucks, and playing soccer.” The boy also liked visiting his dad, who is a firefighter, at the firehouse and “exploring the fire trucks.”
“Maverick’s laughter and boundless energy lit up every room he entered. He never met a stranger and brought happiness to all who knew him,” the obituary reads. “God’s child had the brightest smile, a heart full of love, and gave the very best hugs. His time on earth was far too short, but the love he gave and received will remain forever.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to create a playground in his name at his preschool, Immanuel Lutheran Child Care Ministry. It has already made its initial goal several times over. “It’s absolutely incredible what this community has done, and if it was on the flip side, we’d have been there for somebody else,” Zach Flinn said.
The family will also be implementing the “Maverick Minute,” a reminder to check your surroundings while farming. “The Maverick Minute is going to be something that is not just safety, but it’s going to be to remember him,” his uncle said.
