Young girl struck, killed by vehicle near Apex
APEX (WTVD) -- A family is devastated after a young girl hit and killed by an SUV along Old U.S. 1 Thursday evening.
A family friend said Miliah Banos-Ruiz-Coats was just four years old.
It happened around 5:30 p.m. right in front of the girl's home. Neighbors said her father was setting up a toy for his son to play with in the yard when the little girl somehow ran out in the road.
The driver who hit her did stop and was questioned by accident investigators.
In the close-knit community where it happened, news of the child's death and the pain of her father's reaction was hitting everyone hard.
"It's devastating, he just loved his daughter. We're all hurting for him. It's rough to see him hurt so bad," said Lameta Murray, who said she's known the victim's father since they were children. "We're all here for him. We're gonna all try and get through this together."
Lamenta Murray grew up with the girl's father. Murray said she knew Miliah and her children have played with her before.
"I told my kids this morning. They're wondering, you know, what happened, why," Murray said. "But it's just difficult."
Murray said her family is just trying to process this tragic loss.
"I'm asking everybody just to pray for the family," Murray shared, "so that they can get through this."
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said no charges will be filed against the driver.
A GoFundMe had been set up to help the family with funeral expenses. Click here to learn more or donate.
