Louisiana
2-year-old TikTok star ‘Okay Baby’ Preston Ordone dies in car crash in Louisiana, family disputes police report
Preston Ordone, the 2-year-old boy who became a viral sensation on TikTok as “Okay Baby,” has died following a car accident in Louisiana. According to a report by Just Jared, the incident occurred on Thursday, April 24, when Preston was in a 2011 Ford F-150 with his family. His parents, Katelynn and Jaelan Ordone, suffered severe injuries and remain hospitalised.
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Disputing the police report
Following the tragic accident, the Louisiana State Police issued a statement, stating that Preston was improperly restrained in his car seat, while the two front-seat passengers were wearing seatbelts. However, Preston’s grandfather, Glen Norris, has disputed this claim. Speaking to Nola.com from Lakeview Hospital, where Katelynn and Jaelan are recovering, Norris explained that the child was properly secured in his car seat.
“The driver and front passenger, who were both properly restrained, sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Preston, who was seated in the rear, but improperly restrained in a child safety seat, also sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” the Louisiana State Police said in its statement on Facebook.
In a phone interview and on Facebook, Preston’s grandfather clarified that the family was on their way home from a doctor’s appointment when the accident occurred, and their daughter Paisley was not in the vehicle at the time.
He said that Preston was properly restrained, disputing the police report.
A heartbreaking farewell
Preston’s family shared the devastating news with their followers on social media, where they had previously documented their everyday life. In an emotional video posted on Katelynn Ordone’s account, described as “Just an Ordone-ary Family,” two of their loved ones expressed the depth of their grief.
“This is the hardest post we could possibly make, finding words is still so hard,” the message began. “We hope that you can help our family in any way possible in this hard time. It still feels so unreal… All your prayers, love, and support is needed and appreciated. Thank you. #OkayBabyForever.”
They went on to explain the details of the accident, revealing that the family’s truck veered off the interstate and struck a tree. “Katelynn, Jaelan, and Preston were involved in an accident. Paisley was at school and was not in the vehicle,” they shared. “We don’t know all the details yet, but unfortunately Preston didn’t make it.”
Watch the clip here:
Injuries and recovery
The loved ones continued, describing the extent of Katelynn and Jaelan’s injuries. “Katelynn has multiple broken bones and a severe concussion. She walked for the first time today. Jaelan had to have emergency surgery on one of his legs, with rods and pins now in place. They’re both at different hospitals.”
They also reflected on Preston’s impact, saying, “Preston had made a huge impact on all of you guys. He made people smile and laugh. In heaven right now, if there’s mud, he’s probably jumping and dancing in it.”
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A state lawmaker whose district includes Iberville and nine other parishes will lead the way on the drawing of a new congressional map when the committee convenes Friday.
Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, will chair the hearings to draw a new congressional district map. He currently serves as chairman of the U.S. Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
On Wednesday, Kleinpeter said he has not worked on any maps. He is letting the committee members and the members of the Senate work on this with staff.
The move will come nine days after the U.S. Supreme Court on a 6-3 vote ruled one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black U.S. House districts unconstitutional.
“We can’t base it on race anymore, so the minority party is the Democrats,” he said. “The Democrats have migrated away from the New Orléans area, so we’re looking at Democrats versus Republicans, so the minority party — the Democrats — which means it’s more favored toward Baton Rouge.”
The move would work in favor of incumbent 6th District Congressman Cleo Fields, who was a candidate for the race which Gov. Jeff Lndry suspended in the wake of the Supreme Court decision.
The ruling stemmed from Louisiana vs. Callais – a consolidation of Robinson vs. Callais – that centered on racial gerrymandering and redistricting in the state of Louisiana following the 2020 United States census. The lead plaintiff, Phillip “Bert” Callais, is a resident of Brusly.
The Supreme Court vote came despite the African American population comprising nearly one-third of the state’s population.
According to the 2020 Census, the Black or African American population in Louisiana was approximately 1,464,023,representing 31.4%of the state’s total population. Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of Black residents in the United States, ranking second behind Mississippi.
The Baton Rouge district would likely be the area to undergo the remap, he said.
It amounts to an intricate balancing act.
“What far-right Republicans don’t understand is that with Congress maps, you have to be within 776, 280 votes – within 50 votes of the other districts,” Kleinpeter said. “It’s not like our legislative maps where you can be off by thousands … when you start changing a precinct, it can run down a rabbit hole chasing this precinct over here and over there.
“We can easily draw a really strong nine Republican and one strong Democrat, so if you start watering districts down you could wind up with a 4-2 map.”
Republicans currently have a two-vote super majority vote.
“But some Republican districts are strong and others are weak,” Kleinpeter said. “If you take 58 percent Democrats and put them in Republican districts, you could end up losing Republicans.
“Drawing congress maps is very difficult – you have the leader of the party, and you have the Speaker of the House you have to protect,” he said. “You don’t want to jeopardize their maps at hole.”
One other issue is looming for the state, Kleinpeter said.
“What people don’t understand is that we will have to do this all over again in five years, after the next census comes out,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll people by that time.”
The 2030 Census will play a key role in the process, but it still requires participation.
“I had plenty of next-door neighbors who didn’t want to fill out their census” he said. “I’m going to push to fill out their census. We miss out on federal money and potentially risk losing a seat. “
Neuty, the iconic Bucktown nutria visits the state capitol, with Myra Lacoste, Denny Lacoste, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Dennis Lacoste Sr., and Louisiana state Senator J. Cameron Henry Jr. Neuty was an orphan, rescued by the Lacostes. In March 2023, LDWF agents attempted to confiscate the illegal pet.
VIDALIA, La. — Louisiana State Police arrested 18-year-old Gregory Steele early Sunday morning on two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of underage operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, one count vehicular negligent injuring and one count careless operation, according to Concordia Parish Jail records.
Steele, 18, a white male, was arrested in connection with an accident that occurred at approximately 1:54 a.m. on Sunday morning on Minorca Road in Vidalia. Two passengers in the vehicle were killed. Steele and another passenger were able to escape the vehicle.
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