The adorable toddler known to millions of TikTok fans as “Okay Baby” has been killed in a vehicle accident — with cops saying he was improperly buckled in his seat at the time and his family denying the claim.
Preston Ordone, 2, was traveling with his parents in a 2011 Ford 5-150 pick-up truck near New Orleans at 11:50 a.m. Thursday when the vehicle swerved off the road and smashed into a tree, according to Louisiana State Police and a statement made in a video from two people close to the family.
“Preston, who was seated in the rear, but improperly restrained in a child safety seat, … sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” the cops said in a press release.
The videotaped statement from the tot’s family said his parents, Katelynn and Jaelan Ordone, were “severely injured’’ in the tragedy.
“Katelynn has multiple broken bones. She had a very bad concussion. … Jaelen had to have emergency surgery on one of his legs,’’ a woman said in the footage.
Little Preston’s grandfather, Glenn Norris, insisted that Preston was properly restrained in his seat at the time and called the cops’ statement “hurtful and painful.’’
Norris said he spoke to a good Samaritan who removed Preston from the vehicle and that the person told him the child was properly buckled up.
Police said they are still investigating the cause of the crash and awaiting the results of a “routine” toxicology from the driver for analysis. It wasn’t clear which parent was driving.
A spokesman for the state police declined comment on the grandfather’s assertion that Preston was properly secured in the back seat.
Preston earned his famous nickname because he would always say “OK” when one of his parents advised him on how to behave — and then proceed to do the opposite.
In one viral video, when his mother asked the mischievous tot to be careful and not slip in the mud, Preston politely tells him mom, “OK” in a cheerful voice, then starts diving into the mud over and over again.
Paisley, Preston’s sister, was in school at the time of the accident.
In a now heartbreaking TikTok video as part of a viral trend made five days before the accident, Preston says, “I love you” while running toward his mom.
“Oh, I love you,” she replies.
“But listen, I have a problem,” Katelynn tells her son.
“I’m so hungry right now that I literally could eat a kid,” she jokingly says as part of the trending phrase.
Preston then points to his sister and says, “You can eat Paisley Anne. Eat Paisley Anne.”
A man using Preston’s mother’s TikTok account said, “Preston made a huge impact on all of you guys.
“He made people smile, laugh. I know you look forward to seeing him every day,” he said. “If there’s mud in heaven, he’s probably found it is jumping and dancing in it.”
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