Vigil held for girl killed in accident
Mourners share memories of Eliza Almuina, release pink and white balloons
Jennie Gonzales is relying on her deep religious faith to carry her through after her 12-yearold daughter was hit and killed Thursday as she and a friend crossed Louisiana.
Eliza “Justine” Almuina, a sixth-grade student at Cleveland Middle School, walked from school to the grocery store that evening to buy snacks with her close friend Hailie Estrada before an after-hours school carnival. As the girls used a crosswalk at Natalie NE on their way back, Eliza was hit by an SUV. She died hours later in a local hospital.
Police have called Eliza’s death a “tragic accident,” and
the 76-year-old driver of the SUV has not been charged. An APD spokesman said the driver didn’t see the girls as they crossed the street around 5 p.m. after another car stopped to let them by.
Family, classmates, teachers and church members gathered at Stardust Skies Park on Sunday for a candlelight vigil and balloon release in Eliza’s memory.
Eliza’s friends, some wearing matching memorial T-shirts, clutched candles as they stood in the center of the crowd and shared memories. They remembered putting on makeup in the school bathroom, forging parent signatures and dancing and taking pictures at school.
Through tears, the girls remembered Eliza as a funny, charming kid with a contagious smile who handed out compliments and was always “the brightest light in the room.”
“She has too many friends, I couldn’t keep count,” Gonzales told the crowd of around 200 people.
Gonzales said God was the reason she was still standing, and she said she was overwhelmed by the turnout for the vigil.
“I know that was all God right there to show the love and the support that we need to stand strong,” she said. “That was all God.” Attendees brought with them white and pink balloons, some decorated with handwritten messages, “We all miss you Eliza” and “Rest in peace baby girl.” And as the event wrapped up, the crowd shouted “We love you Eliza” before releasing the balloons.
A GoFundMe to help cover funeral arrangements had surpassed it’s $8,000 goal by Sunday night thanks to contributions by more than 200 people.