Tragic Farm Accident Claims Lives of 4-Year-Old Boy and His Great-Grandmother in Indiana

Four-year-old Maverick Flinn, a cheerful little boy known for his love of toy tractors and life on the farm, tragically died in a farming accident on June 23 in southern Indiana. The heartbreaking incident also took the life of his great-grandmother, 68-year-old Nancy Ann “Nanny” Fox.

Maverick had simply wanted to ride along in the combine with his great-grandfather—a favorite activity. But when they got off the equipment, an accident involving a tractor ended both Maverick’s and Nancy’s lives, leaving their tight-knit family in shock and grief.

The community of Seymour, Indiana, quickly rallied around the Flinn family. Neighbors came together to harvest two weeks’ worth of wheat in just 24 hours, and a GoFundMe campaign set up to build a memorial playground in Maverick’s name soared past $70,000 in donations.

Maverick is remembered as a joyful, big-hearted kid who loved being outdoors, racing monster trucks, hanging out at the fire station with his dad, and making everyone around him smile.

His great-grandmother Nancy was the rock of the family—a devoted wife and the heart of the family farm. She loved spending time on the land and relaxing on the porch with loved ones.

The Flinns have deep roots in public service—both Maverick’s father and grandfather are firefighters. In the wake of this tragedy, they’ve launched a safety initiative called the “Maverick Minute.” It encourages farmers and workers to take a 60-second pause before operating machinery, in hopes of preventing future tragedies.

“We’re going to carry on in his honor,” Maverick’s uncle said. “And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure something like this never happens again.”