PALM COAST, Fla. – A 7-year-old girl was hit by an SUV and killed Wednesday morning in Flagler County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The girl, Kymora Christian, was walking to her Palm Coast school bus stop alone when she was struck by a white Lincoln Navigator as she attempted to cross Whippoorwill Drive, FHP said.
The accident happened near Kymora's home, and her mother came to the crash site and went with her to Flagler Hospital, where Kymora died.
Troopers said the woman driving the SUV, 36-year-old Melissa Beane-Meeth, was taking her 11-year-old son to school through a residential neighborhood.
She was driving east on Whippoorwill Drive when Kymora attempted to cross the street and was struck. Beane-Meeth got out of the vehicle, stayed at the scene and has been cooperating with troopers, FHP said.
Neither Beane-Meeth nor her son was injured.
Kymora's school, Wadsworth Elementary, is less than a mile away from where the accident happened.
The Flagler County school superintendent was at the school Wednesday morning, along with counselors and psychologists, to support the students and faculty.
This is the third incident involving a student and a vehicle in Flagler County since school started. School officials said it serves as a painful reminder to drivers to be alert.
"Just be hyper-vigilant. We are dealing with kids here and kids don't always follow the rules," Flagler Schools representative Jason Wheeler said. "But we ask that you know if you are behind the wheel of a car just pay close attention."
People in the community were grieving and supporting each other, even starting a makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons and gifts at the bus stop.
One of the contributors was Latricia Haylard, who lives minutes away from the crash site.
"This is a 7-year-old girl; I have a 7-year-old daughter," Haylard said. "I even brought her a little Minnie Mouse, you know, because she reminds me so much of my daughter. I don't even really know all of who she is, but I do know that because we are so close in Palm Coast, I know I've seen her already."
Troopers said the investigation is ongoing, but they do not believe speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
Flagler County schools will be investigating as well. The bus stop is in an area with no sidewalks and no crosswalk, but officials said they choose every bus stop carefully. They said they will make adjustments if needed.