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VINEYARD — A community gathered Sunday night to remember a little girl who was hit and killed by an SUV in her Utah County neighborhood.
Dozens of people attended the vigil, many of whom were children. As photos of 6-year-old Annie Gonzalez were shown, it was hard not to feel her loss.
Words of comfort were spoken and sung in two languages, but there was just one emotion: love — love for a little girl who brought a smile to everyone who knew her.
Kids are just always the light of families, and she was one of them. She was the light of her family.
–Yeraldine Calderon
“She was a special girl. It’s hard,” said Yeraldine Calderon. “She was a very, very intelligent person. Even though she was 6 years old, she knew a lot.”
Annie was remembered as being bright, thoughtful and most of all, loving.
“Very smart, very sweet,” said Heath Ogden. “And she took care of new kids that would show up (at church).”
Annie’s father spoke through tears to the dozens of people who gathered in his daughter’s memory.
Related:
Family of 6-year-old girl who died in Vineyard auto-pedestrian crash speaks out
The family of a 6-year-old girl who died after being struck by an SUV spoke about their daughter Friday.The kindergartner was riding an electric scooter in her cul-de-sac March 27 when she was hit by an SUV.
It was a tragic accident that made those at Sunday’s vigil — and all who hear Annie’s story — hug their little ones. It’s a reminder that life is truly precious.
“Kids are just always the light of families, and she was one of them,” said Calderon. “She was the light of her family.”
Annie’s family recently moved to Utah from Venezuela seeking political asylum. Even though they haven’t been in Utah long, they have a lot of love and support from the community in Vineyard.
