DETROIT (WXYZ) — "It's hard to believe," said Franchella Wright whose 10-year-old cousin, Amari Myles, was struck by a vehicle over the weekend. Amari died Tuesday at a local hospital.
The boy, who is described at funny, playful and full of joy, would have turned 11 Wednesday. Instead of having a party, Amari's relatives are planning his funeral.
"We're still trying to wrap our minds around it," said Franchella who started a GoFundMe to help Amari's distraught mother pay for her son's funeral.
The accident happened Saturday afternoon on Plymouth Road at Southfield Road on Detroit's west side.
Amari was selling bottled water to drivers and their passengers in an effort to raise some money and have something to do for the summer and learn a work ethic, his cousin told 7 Action News Wednesday.
Franchella said that it's her family's understanding that the driver who struck Amari may have gone through the intersection on a yellow or red light.
There is grainy surveillance video from a nearby gas station that shows Amari walking across Plymouth Road. It appears to show one vehicle going through the intersection while other vehicles going the same and opposite directions are stopped.
Detroit Police said they are still investigating and have not made a determination on whether the driver disobeyed a traffic signal.
"We're confident that they're going to do a full and thorough investigation," said Franchella.
The family is now focusing on trying to plan Amari's funeral.
"We really don't keep life insurance on our children so the burden is significant," said Franchella. "And we're hoping that it's something his mom doesn't have to worry about and we're able to give him a proper burial, a proper funeral.
Amari's father died about a year ago. He leaves behind his mom and four-year-old twin brothers.
Click here if you'd like to make a donation to help with Amari's funeral.
