WIMAUMA, Fla. — Hillsborough County deputies surprised a 10-year-old boy who recently lost his mother in a car crash.
Deputy Austin Zitch responded to the hospital to break the news to 10-year-old, Israel.
"For a 10-year-old, he held it together extremely well. He tried to stay strong. You could definitely see he didn't know how to react," said Deputy Austin Zitch.
The boy's mother died in a car crash on August 30 around 10 p.m. on West Lake Drive in Wimauma.
A family friend, Adriana Guerra, is caring for Israel.
"It's been pretty hard. Everything just like stopped," said Adriana Guerra.
Days after the car crash, Deputy Zitch and his co-worker Deputy Andrew Crosby visited Israel. Deputies put together their money to buy him an Xbox and several video games.
Walmart on State Road 674 in Wimauma donated a Nintendo DS, a tablet and gift cards.
"The stuff we gave him can't replace what he lost, but it shows he has a support system outside of family and friends," said Deputy Crosby.
Israel said he has never had an Xbox before.
Deputies know these gifts won't take away the hurt, but they hope it can provide them an escape.
"He can go home, play some video games, escape reality for a while and just be a 10-year-old boy," said Deputy Zitch.
