-Year-Old and Great-Grandmother Killed in Heartbreaking Farm Accident in Indiana

A tragic farming accident in southern Indiana has left a community reeling after 4-year-old Maverick Lee Flinn and his beloved great-grandmother, Nancy Ann “Nanny” Fox, lost their lives.

On Monday, June 23, Maverick—full of energy, curiosity, and love for tractors—was riding with his great-grandfather during a day of farm work. When he got down from the combine with his great-grandmother, something went terribly wrong. Both were fatally injured in an accident involving a farm tractor.

The news shook the town of Seymour, but neighbors and farmers responded with compassion and urgency. By the next day, the local farming community had stepped in to finish the Flinns’ wheat harvest—a job that would normally take nearly two weeks—within just 24 hours. “They did in one day what usually takes twelve,” said Maverick’s uncle, Zach Flinn, speaking to WTHR with deep gratitude.

Maverick’s legacy is already leaving a mark. A GoFundMe started to build a memorial playground in his name had an initial goal of $5,000—but quickly surpassed $70,000. Maverick, according to his obituary, was a boy who “never met a stranger,” loved monster trucks, pillow fights with his cousins, and visiting his firefighter family at the local fire station.

“Nanny” Fox, 68, was the heart of the family farm, working beside her husband and loved ones every day. Her favorite moments were spent outdoors, watching the sunset over the land she helped tend. She passed away two days after Maverick, surrounded by family at the University of Louisville Hospital. Her obituary reads: “She was welcomed into Heaven with the biggest hug from her great-grandson, Maverick.”

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Flinn family launched the “Maverick Minute” safety initiative—asking farmers to pause for 60 seconds to check their surroundings before operating heavy equipment. It’s a simple act, but one the family hopes will save lives.

In recognition of the family’s dedication to service—Maverick’s father and grandfather both serve as firefighters—Indiana State Fire Marshal Steve Jones was scheduled to attend the boy’s funeral on June 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Despite the heartbreak, the Flinns are determined to carry on. “We will farm again,” said Zach Flinn. “We will carry on in his honor—and we will make sure this never happens to another family.”

Their message is clear: even through unimaginable pain, love and community can build something lasting.