Fundraiser launched for boy killed in Myakka City when dirt bike collided with car

MYAKKA CITY -- The aunt of a 15-year-old Myakka City boy who died Friday in a collision has set up a YouCaring.com fundraiser to help lay him to rest.

Jeffrey Taylor Dahl was riding his dirt bike when he collided head-on with a car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP troopers said Jeffrey was heading east on 61st Avenue East just east of the intersection with 249th Street East Friday just after 6 p.m., when he collided head-on with a westbound Cadillac. The driver of the car had moved into the eastbound lane to pass a slower-moving car, according to a FHP news release.

Dahl was pronounced dead at the scene, FHP said.

Florida Highway Patrol Kenneth Watson was unable to provide the latest information on the crash when reached by phone early Monday evening.

According to a release issued just after midnight Saturday, no charges were filed in the crash.

Lisa Dahl-Ange created the fundraiser the day after her brother's son died. The campaign is titled "Help Jeffrey Dahl, age 15, to rest in peace" and is headlined with an image of the smiling teen in a green t-shirt.

"It's extremely difficult being in California and my brother being in Florida," the 50-year-old Dahl-Ange told the Herald Monday. "I feel so helpless and I felt this was the only thing I could do to help until I can get there."

In a post on the campaign, Dahl-Ange wrote that Jeffrey did everything correctly the night he died.

"He was wearing his helmet, he was on the correct side of the road, he hugged his mom and kissed her goodbye, then left for his friends house," she wrote.

She described her nephew as a very caring young man who loved his family and animals very much.

He was also a goofball.

"He was so funny," she said. "He would do anything to make anybody laugh."

About a month and a half ago, Dahl-Ange said Jeffrey put plastic wrap between a door frame to trick his brother, Brian Dahl.

"He made it was high enough so his mom wouldn't hit it -- so his brother would hit it but not his mom." she said with a small chuckle. "That was Jeffrey."

Jeffrey was a sophomore at Lakewood Ranch High School. On Monday, extra support was available at the school.

"We had a crisis team out there," spokesman Mike Barber said.

As of Monday evening, more than $2,000 of the $7,000 goal had been donated.

Dahl-Ange said she last saw her nephew during a visit to Florida in October. Jeffrey let her have his bed during her stay, and didn't complain when she wanted to watch something else on TV.

"I remember when he was going out, I told him 'You're not leaving without giving me a big hug' and he turns around and he walks back and gives me a big hug," she said. "Thank God. Thank God I got that."

For more information on the YouCaring fundraiser for Jeffrey, visit youcaring.com/jeffrey-dahl-son-of-greg-bonni-dahl-nephew-of-lisa-dahl-ange-482422.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, contributed to this report.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Fundraiser launched for boy killed in Myakka City when dirt bike collided with car ."