Community gathers to remember 12-year-old girl after tragic crash

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WINK)—Hundreds of people lined a bridge near Gilchrist Park Thursday night to honor 12-year-old Jordyn Corbin, who died in a crash last month.

Jordyn and her father, Larry Corbin, were involved in a crash on Harbor View Road and Leverne Street. Larry has been in the ICU since the crash. His daughter died at the scene.

WINK News was exclusively invited to the vigil. School teachers, friends, neighbors and even those who had never met Jordyn came to honor her memory.

The vigil brought the bridge to a standstill as people gathered to remember Jordyn, whose life was cut short by a drunk driver. At just 12 years old, her impact led what appeared to be over 100 people to walk over the Peace River with flashlights, phone lights and fairy light sticks made by the family.

Larry said that he wouldn't be able to walk the bridge for his daughter because his injuries from the crash were too severe. Thursday, he didn't walk, but he didn't miss the moment for his little girl either.

"Blessed to be here, blessed to be on location, and we're blessed to have this turn out," Larry said.

Despite the rain, their lights still shone bright.

"The heavens are crying because we lost an exceptional little girl," Larry said. "My daughter is probably up there just cheese and because and laughing a little bit, she's like jokester. Just the love and support that this community has shown. So it's been, it's overwhelming, and it's breathtaking, really."

Larry met people who knew his daughter the same way he did, but each one came with their own memory.

"The main thing between her peers was your daughter was a kind heart," Larry said. "She always picked out the person that wanted, that needed help, and she would help them. We have a community that has really went out of their way to show a lot of love to my daughter."

The vigil showed the lasting impact Jordyn left on the Punta Gorda community.