Covington, La. — The family of Preston Ordone, a 2-year-old boy who captured hearts on TikTok before his tragic death in a Northshore car crash Thursday, says they are heartbroken — and frustrated by what they describe as an inaccurate account from the Louisiana State Police regarding the circumstances of the accident.
In a press release issued Thursday, State Police said Preston was improperly restrained in his car seat when a 2011 Ford F-150, traveling eastbound on Interstate 12, veered off the road and struck a tree just before 11:50 a.m. The agency noted that both front-seat passengers were wearing seat belts at the time.
The announcement quickly drew significant attention on social media, where the Ordone family maintains a substantial following — 25,000 followers on Facebook, 151,000 on Instagram, and 251,000 on TikTok. One video featuring Preston, affectionately known to fans as “Okay Baby,” has garnered nearly 43 million views.
However, Glen Norris, Preston’s grandfather, publicly disputed the State Police’s account. Speaking on Facebook and later in a phone interview Friday evening, Norris said Preston was properly restrained at the time of the crash. He spoke from Lakeview Hospital, where his daughter Katelynn Ordone and son-in-law Jaelan Ordone remain hospitalized with injuries sustained in the accident.
According to Norris, the couple was returning home from a doctor’s appointment with Preston when the crash occurred. Their daughter, Paisley, was at school at the time.
Norris said he spoke directly with a witness who had been traveling behind the Ordones’ truck and who removed Preston from the vehicle after the collision. That witness, Norris said, confirmed that Preston had been properly secured in a car seat.
The grieving grandfather described himself as feeling “numb” following his grandson’s death but expressed anger over the State Police’s statement, calling it “hurtful and painful” at an already devastating time for the family.
In response, Trooper Marc Gremillion said Friday evening that the press release was accurate based on the information currently available but declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Louisiana State Police also addressed concerns in a pinned comment on their Facebook post about the crash, writing: “Our goal is never to add to the pain, but rather to fulfill our responsibility in this age of information.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, authorities said.