HARRISON TWP. — A post near the intersection of North Main Street at Julia Avenue is decorated with the letters “RA” nestled between teddy bears and pink balloons.
The memorial honors 14-year-old Rayael Alexander, who was killed in a crash on North Main Street in late March.
Dozens of family members and friends gathered Friday night to honor her memory.
It was an emotional night as they watched the balloons they brought fill the sky.
Alexander died after the car she was in hit an RTA pole and a parked vehicle, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
A friend of Alexander said she couldn’t believe it when she heard her friend was gone.
“When I first found out what happened I thought it was fake. I texted somebody they told me what happened and I didn’t even know what to do,” Ta-Naisha Woodard said.
Those in attendance wore t-shirts with Alexander’s face on them; they comforted each other.
“We need that peace, we need that comfort, we need healing,”
Alexander’s mother Veronica Dunson was overcome with emotion.
“I’m surprised everybody came out here to support my baby, I’m so happy,” Dunson said Friday night.
“Everybody out here helped me lay my baby down,” she added.
Kenya Baker, a former teacher of Alexander, remembered her smile and contagious energy.
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“She had these big eyes that just they just drew you, in you had to love her, she was full of energy and all these people felt it,” Baker said.
Baker told News Center 7 that the community is helping Alexander’s family cover the funeral expenses.
“No one expects to lose a child at the age of 14, so it means a lot to have the community support,” she said.
According to a crash report, a 17-year-old was behind the wheel and a 20-year-old man was also in the car at the time of the crash.
Both were taken to Miami Valley Hospital for their injuries but have since been released.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said they are still investigating the crash.
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