Mackenzie Obituary, Death; – A 7-year-old girl tragically lost her life in a collision last week after authorities reported that she stepped into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Her grandmother fondly remembers her as a second grader who enjoyed coloring, playing games, and was in the process of learning to swim.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Christine Christensen highlights the loss of her granddaughter, identified as Mackenzie, who passed away just one day after her family’s home suffered damage from Hurricane Milton.
Timothy Calusinski, the child’s father, spoke briefly with The News-Press, indicating that the family is not yet prepared to participate in an interview. “We’re going through a really hard time,” he stated.
In the fundraiser, Christensen portrayed her granddaughter as a “brave, beautiful, smart, kind, and fun-loving little girl.” She elaborated that Mackenzie had a passion for coloring, dancing, and imaginative play, often pretending to own and manage stores or teach classes.
“She excelled at everything she attempted and had a free spirit,” Christensen reflected on her granddaughter. “Her creativity shone through in the delightful games she devised for her loved ones, including her baby sister, Isabel.”
Christensen expressed her deep sympathy for her granddaughter’s parents, who are grappling with both physical damage from Hurricane Milton and profound emotional pain. “I cannot begin to comprehend the turmoil they are experiencing. The thoughts and feelings they must be enduring are unimaginable,” she wrote. “The burden of financial concerns, the aftermath of the hurricane, and the preparations for their little girl are overwhelming.”
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at approximately 12:26 p.m. on October 10 on Gazelle Drive in North Fort Myers. Troopers reported that Mackenzie Calusinski was on a side road on the north side of Gazelle Drive when she entered the direct path of a Chevrolet Silverado traveling east. The front left of the pickup struck her on Gazelle Drive.
