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SALT LAKE CITY -- Elementary school children painted rainbows and donated money from their piggy banks to honor their classmate and help the family of the 6-year-old girl who was killed last week crossing the road with her mother.
Ambrosia Amalatitoda was killed crossing State Street near Whittier Elementary School, where she was a student. The students at Whittier wanted to bring in their money to help the family. While the donations were small, they totaled over $1,000 and the act, said Ambrosia's first- grade teacher, brought the school together.
"I'm just going to miss her spirit and her. She (would say) everyday, 'I love you teacher!'"
Luce saw Ambrosia and her mother off the afternoon the girl was struck. Luce had been tutoring Ambrosia in reading, and the day before the accident, she had hit a major milestone. Natalie Randall, Ambrosia's mother, was there during the tutoring session, and told the girl she could get a treat from the Chinese market as a reward.
"It was hard coming back, seeing her chair, seeing her locker, seeing her lunch card," Luce said.
Luce said Ambrosia's death has been tough on her class and the school as a whole, but they are healing.
"(Students) keep coming up and saying 'I think ambrosia's an angel now. I think she's in heaven,'" Luce said. "And I just say, "That's a beautiful thought.'"
Ambrosia's funeral will be held Saturday afternoon. Though her mother is still being treated for her injuries, she will be able to attend.
The crosswalk at 1500 South and State Street where the accident happened is set to get a traffic light sometime this summer.
