Grief counselors were on hand at Frick Middle School in Oakland Monday to help students cope with the loss of Alana Williams, an 11-year-old sixth-grader who was killed near the school Friday by a hit-and-run driver.
Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint said counselors will remain at the school for the next few days or "as long as people need support."
Her mother came to the make-shift memorial where the little girl died Monday morning. Members of the family quickly scooped up the stuffed animals that were left behind as rain drops began to fall on the memorial.
Williams was struck and killed shortly before 8:10 a.m. Friday at the intersection of 64th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, outside the middle school. She had just gotten off a bus and was crossing the street in a crosswalk.
Flint said the school district is making "a big push" for city officials to install a stoplight at the intersection. There are stop signs there now, but Flint said drivers don't always observe them.
Flint said the school district will conduct a comprehensive review of all the intersections near the city's schools to make sure they are safe.
"We want to take proactive measures to prevent something like this from happening again in the future," Flint said.
Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said authorities are still looking for the driver of the car that struck Williams. Police say the vehicle was a dark-colored sedan and the driver was last seen headed south on 64th Avenue.
Bay City News
