six year old killed

[~vxn~]

this poor little girl was in my middle son's kindergarten class.  i'm not sure how my son is handling it.  i want to help him, but he's always been in his own place.  it's hard to bring him to where i am.  (he has a form of autism)

they were good friends.

http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_139072331

""SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP - - Austinburg Road was closed for several hours Friday as the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the death of a six-year-old girl.

At about 4 p.m. Morgan Benjamin ran across the street right into the path of a vehicle traveling north on Austinburg Road, said Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHP) Trooper Dan Jesse, who was handling the crash.

Morgan crossed from the east side of the road and was hit by an older model Buick driven by Robert Knox Jr., 20, of Ashtabula. Hours later, his car was pulled off to the side of the road in a yard and Knox remained at the scene.

It appears the driver didn't have any time to stop, Jesse said. There were several witnesses to the incident, he said. Morgan was transported to the Ashtabula County Medical Center were she was pronounced dead at 4:46 p.m., said Pam Lanchaster, Ashtabula County Deputy Coroner.

Cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy to be performed by the Cuyahoga County Coroner and the OHP investigation, she said.

Austinburg Road remained closed hours later as four OHP vehicles blocked traffic in either direction. An OHP crash scene reconstructionist arrived around 7 p.m. and began reviewing the scene.

This was the fourth fatal in the county so far for 2007.""

rest in peace, morgan.

[Sunny]

Sorry to hear about your son's classmate...and condolences to her family -- I can't even fathom this.

Or for that young man, the 20 year-old that struck her...his life will obviously never be the same again...

It's sometimes challenging to talk to a young child about death. Every family has their own way of handling the topic, too. Not to mention your particular situation.

Surely you will find a way to reach him...

[kimmi]

So he hit her and fled the scene? 

[~vxn~]

no, he hit her becuase he couldn't stop.  he stayed at the scene.

[pariann]

you have a message.

[~vxn~]

thank you, i appreciate that, pari.

[Sandy Eggo]

That's the most horrible story. I can't even imagine how devastated everyone is. Those poor poor people.

I have a feeling to that you'll find a way to talk to your son. My son and nephew were about your son's age when they lost their grandmother and my son handled it fairly easily and my nephew had a lot more difficulty understanding and accepting. In both cases, I just watched for signs and did what I needed to do when their thoughts became apparent. Generally, I held them and cried with them, for lack of anything better to do or say. So maybe my advice isn't the best, but maybe talking to the school guidance counselor would be a good place to start?

[~vxn~]

the principal got on the bus with the kindergarten class this morning.  (they are bussed across town to a different building.) there were many teachers crying (the little girl's mother is a teacher), many children--it was sad.  i almost wanted to keep my boys home. 

they informed the parents that were there that grief counsellors would be in the school--and the kindergarten classroom.

after school i will take my middle beastie to the funeral home so he can tell her goodbye.  he told me last night at bedtime that he "needs" to go there and hug her mother. 

[pariann]

he "needs" to go there and hug her mother. 

That made me feel like welling up my own self.

[kimmi]

vxn your child sounds like a wonderful and caring boy.  All children (and adults) will deal with death in their own way.  If he is asking to go, I think it is so smart of you to take him. 

[~vxn~]

ty, and i did.

he brought his favorite teddy bear along.  in the receiving line of grandparents and parents, they even hugged and shook bear's hand.  a grandma asked my son his name he said, "morgan was my friend.  my name is jaiden."  the grandmother said, "i know you!  morgan talked about you all the time!  she's with the angels now.  she'll know you're here."  it was quite tearful--the mother heard this exchange and broke down. 

when we got to her casket, my son (who i carried) looked in and said goodbye... he waved and bear waved. 

###

i can only say that i repect her parents decision to have her casket open.  there is not enough make up to hide the agony of that accident.  she was a beautiful and sweet little girl.  she was wearing a white dress with a bow at the waist.  she had a little pink rosary in her hand.  her little glasses on her face.  there was damage evident.  i thought immediately that though she only lived 45 minutes after being struck by the car that they must have been the most excrutiating moments ever lived by anyone so small.  the pain that poor girl must have been in.  my heart breaks for her family, and for my son who will miss her and held her in a special place.

[kimmi]

Wow.  That is a very touching story.  I have only been to one child's funeral but I'm sure they are all as horrible.  I'm sure that you and other parents are hugging their children just a little bit longer now.  Thank you for sharing that with us.  I hope your son continues to be a strong little guy.