Vigil held for 5-year-old girl struck and killed by truck
ELKHART, Ind. --- A heartbroken family and community sang Happy Birthday towards the skies on Saturday, for the little girl who missed her 6th birthday by just hours.
“She’s supposed to be planning a birthday party, but now instead, she has to plan a funeral,” says one of Jayleighanna’s great aunts, Tara Freel, about Jayleighanna’s mother.
Jayleighanna’s life was cut short on Friday evening.
Her family says she was on the way to the park with her three siblings when they went to cross the street and Jayleighanna was struck by a truck.
“They’re all extremely upset, and they have a long road ahead of them,” Freel says about her family.
Just 24 hours after the accident, family and friends came together to mourn their loss and celebrate what would have been her 6th birthday with candles and balloons in hand.
“A mother should not have to bury her child. Especially one that, her life hadn’t even begun,” says Freel.
Her loved ones say she would want everyone there to be happy, and they’ll miss her big smile the most.
“She was a very happy baby, she definitely wouldn’t want us to be sad,” says another one of Jayleighanna’s great aunts, Lisa Dobkins.
Police say the driver of the vehicle that struck Jayleighanna remained at the scene and cooperated with them. At this time, the investigation into this accident remains ongoing.