CHEYENNE, WY — The family of 11-year-old Liam Cox is grieving after he died Wednesday, three days after a vehicle struck him while he was riding his bicycle near Burns. His father, Ryan Cox, said Liam was hit while biking with his 13-year-old sister on what began as a routine afternoon ride toward town.
The crash left the family confronting not only the boy’s death, but also the emotional toll on his sisters, one of whom saw the collision. Liam had first been taken to a hospital in Colorado before being moved to Denver, where he died from severe injuries including a traumatic brain injury.
In the days since, classmates at St. Mary’s Catholic School have worn purple, Liam’s favorite color, while friends, teachers and neighbors have reached out with support and memories of a boy his father described as endlessly curious and upbeat.
Family remembers a child who loved animals, rocks and being outside
Ryan Cox said Liam stood out for his energy, humor and affection for the outdoors. He loved fishing, riding his bike and scrambling over rocks, and he also had a strong fascination with animals. That interest showed up in small but memorable ways, including a zoo visit where he recognized an elf owl before an employee finished talking about it.
At home, Liam liked chasing chickens around the family property. Cox said the family had recently been dealing with coyotes threatening the flock, and father and son had been talking about setting traps to protect the birds.
The boy’s obituary also traced his life through several states. Born in Illinois, he lived with his family in South Dakota and Kansas before settling in Wyoming. Over time, Cox said, Liam became known as both a climber and a collector, especially of rocks.
A fearless climber whose confidence sometimes startled other parents
Cox said his son’s adventurous streak often surprised adults around him. In the Black Hills, Liam would scramble over rock formations with so much confidence that other parents sometimes became the nervous ones.
He also had a habit of getting himself into situations that required a calm rescue. Cox recalled one time in Kansas when Liam climbed high into a tree and then realized coming back down was harder than going up. His father had to talk him through each step of the descent.
Those stories, Cox said, fit a child who seemed to approach the world with equal parts boldness and joy. Friends and relatives have since shared similar memories, reinforcing the family’s own sense that Liam left a strong impression on people wherever he went.
Purple shirts at school mark a community’s grief after the crash
Liam was one of three children in the Cox household, and his death has rippled through both the family and his school. Ryan Cox said classmates at St. Mary’s Catholic School have been grieving alongside teachers and neighbors, with many wearing purple to honor Liam.
That response, he said, matches what the family is hearing from people who knew him. Some describe him as the sweetest boy they had ever met, while others remember a child who fit in easily and made friends without effort.
Cox said Liam was “everybody’s friend,” a phrase that now seems to reflect the breadth of the reaction to his death. He added that the children in the family appear to be coping as well as they can for now, though the hardest part may still be ahead as the reality settles in.
Investigators say impairment was not suspected after the vehicle struck Liam
Laramie County sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at 3:52 p.m. Sunday after the crash near the intersection of County Road 213 and County Road 147. Authorities said Liam and his sister had been riding toward Burns on the paved rural road when the vehicle hit him.
Sheriff Brian Kozak said after the crash that investigators did not believe impairment played a role, though they were still looking at whether speed may have been a factor. Officials have not publicly identified the driver.
The circumstances remain a painful focus for the family. Cox said he has driven the road himself to look at the stretch where his son was struck and to try to understand what happened. He also recalled confronting the driver at the scene.
Fundraiser, meal train and funeral plans now support the Cox family
As the family deals with the loss, a fundraiser and meal train have been organized to help the Coxes with immediate needs. The support comes as they prepare for public services to remember Liam and gather with mourners from across the community.
Visitation is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes in Cheyenne, followed by a vigil at 5 p.m. His funeral is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
For the Cox family, those arrangements come alongside unanswered questions about the crash and the longer process of helping Liam’s sisters through grief. What remains clear to those who knew him best, his father said, is that Liam brought happiness wherever he went.
