JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local community wants to ensure that a 10-year-old Jacksonville boy is not forgotten.

Friends and family described Eli Warren as a leader, comedian and an overall incredible person.

“He loved to make people laugh and smile.“ Charles Warren, Eli’s father, said.

Action News Jax told you two weeks ago when Eli was killed in a car crash. On Jan. 7, Eli and his mother, Releia, were driving on Interstate 10. A tractor-trailer was in the left lane heading eastbound near Chaffee Road. Florida Highway Patrol said the family’s Honda Odyssey was driving on the opposite side of the road, also in the left lane. The tractor-trailer went off the road into the grass median, overturned and hit the mother and son head-on.

Releia is still hospitalized, but Eli did not make it.

“The thing that I want the most is him back and nobody can do that.“ Charles Warren said.

This is the first time Charles Warren is speaking with media following his son’s death. He said is still trying to understand why his son was taken from him at such a young age.

“Did I not protect him enough?” Warren said, talking about the emotions he was feeling after the crash. “Did I not do ... what did I do? I got kind of caught in that cycle, and I reminded myself or heard something or saw his Legos and it reminded me he wouldn’t want that.”

Instead, Charles Warren is using his grief to honor his son by alleviating someone else’s suffering through a blood drive at their family’s church, Maranatha Church of Jacksonville. The theme is “Down by the River.”

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“He was a Chris Farley fan, so he loved the van down by the river,” he said. “We’re going to put the blood van, and go down by the river and give blood in his honor.”

Charles Warren adds that it will be his first time giving blood.

“If it’s your first time come on with me. Do it for Eli,” he said.

But, even if you’re too shy to give blood or you can’t give blood, the family welcomes you to stop by the event. It will be held on Feb. 2, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You’re encouraged to register ahead of time at this link.

We reached out to Florida Highway Patrol for an update in the crash investigation, but did not hear back.

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