Promising young athlete dies from car accident

Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that Rex Ballenger has died from his injuries from a car accident over the weekend.

[You go it]

That is very sad to hear. People please, you need to ware sealtbelts, dont make it a choice, make it a habit.

[Animal Rights in Tampa]

How incredibly tragic. My thoughts are with the family as they try to deal with this unthinkable turn of events.

[JBEMom]

Very tragic accident. Praying for this young man's family and friends.

[Carol]

My thoughts and prayers to out to the family of this young man. I can't emphasize enough the importance of wearing a seat belt, it could have made the difference between life and death for him.

[craziness]

My heart and prayers go out to this young man,s family and friends!
I cannot even imagine pain they are all going through. My son graduates from high school (Bloomingdale) next week and the thought of planning his funeral rather than his graduation party is too hard to even think about!
Such a terrible tragedy. Whether the use of a seat belt would have made the difference for this young man I do not know, but it can't be said often enough that seatbelts save many many lives.

[Carolyn]

My prayers are with his family, his friends, his teammates during this most difficult time. May your memories bring you comfort and peace.

Everyone please remember to buckle your seatbelts. No parent should ever have to bury their child, so please becareful as you celebrate your graduation and drive with care.

[mike]

sorry to hear about another teen passing on too soon...why
does the news media make 'gods' out of these student athletic players and tell us how great they would have been. If this had been just a plain Joe student, it probably would not have been newsworthy

[Andrew]

Mike, any tragedy with some joe student is important but this student athlete was also a great student and person and knew many people. The football is just a big achievment and he also touched and helped alot of people so before you open up your big mouth and give your two cents think about the people who lost this important person.

[FYA]

Another Wasted Life, When are we going to make getting a drivers license a wothhwile challange instead of a gift.A great kid and a great athlete dosent matter when you are not paying attention while you are driving.

[Jeff]

Wearing a helmet when you ride a bike or skate is just as important as wearing a seatbelt in a car. Because, simply injuring your head can take out everything in your body, and head injuries can be the hardest to undo.

[Stevenxls]

NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THAT THE YOUNG MAN WAS AN ATHLETE IT'S A TRAGEDY, PERIOD! WHENEVER A YOUNG PERSON DIES SUDDENLY OR IS KILLED IN ANY ACCIDENT THERE ARE ALWAYS THOSE THAT IMMEDIATELY CONCLUDE IT WAS ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE REPORTS, IF THEY ARE EVER PUBLISHED TO JUDGE. QUITE POSSIBLY THIS YOUNG MAN WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK, OR FOOTBALL PRACTICE EARLY THAT MORNING. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND A YOUNG LIFE IS LOST. MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND TEAMATES. MAY YOU FIND PEACE IN HIS MEMORY AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS SHORT LIFE.

[A Viewer]

R.I.P.

[John - Wesley Chapel]

When my kids were learning to drive they fought me about wearing a seat belt. But we held strong and eventually they got the idea. 6 weeks ago, the 2 younger ones (23 and 19) were in a near head-on collison. Both had their seat belts on. Both walked away with just minor bumps and bruises. The first thing my daughter said when I got to the accident seen was "thank God you made us wear our seat belts!"

[Keith]

You will be missed rex by everyone here at East Bay High School. It wont be the same without u man!!

[Lutz Lady]

1st my heart and prayers go out to the family of this young man but 2nd how many times do we need to see these kids dying in car accidents.
Why cant they learn from the young kids before them.
SEATBELTS save lives!

[Vickie LoGrande]

Rex worked for us and we are happy to have had our time with Rex. He always made us laugh, he could make pizza faster than anyone I have ever seen. We will miss him he is a great kid. We are enriched with the lives that cross and Rex was a great one to have had in our life.

[Roseann]

My prays are with this family and all his friends stay true to each other and you will never walk alone.

[Sami]

Rex Ballenger was a wonderful friend and a great person to hang around with. He was a really funny guy and was a succesful guy. I miss him alot. #10 Jersey on the East Bay Football team will always belong to him and him only. R.I.P Rex Ballenger, me and everyone else in East Bay High School miss you.

[luckydog]

Another death on Big Bend Rd. I have called HCSO numerous times to try to get radar set up. This has become a local speedway. The last time I called HCSO, I was told that a local restaurant did not want radar set up because it was bad for business. Many HCSO have lunch at this restaurant.

[John]

This is rex's brother, and i just wanted everyone who keeps posting there comments, about when are kids going to learn to wear seat belts blah blah blah, that the people who investigated the accident said that if he had been wearing a seat belt he would have died instantly, but rather when he hit he slid down and avoided that. Although i do believe seatbelts save lives, this is obviously true, people who dont know about this situation should probably not comment on this situation. Or in your own words, when are people going to learn.....people who have nothing better to do than write their own opinionated point of view on a subject they know nothing about should pick up a new hobby.

P.S. I would like to thank those of you who send your thoughts and prayers. It means a lot.