FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A viewing service was held Tuesday for a 10-year-old girl who was killed in a hit-and-run crash last week in Fort Pierce.
Yaceny Berenice Rodriguez-Gonzalez was struck around 6:15 a.m. on Sept. 23 at Skylark Drive and Oleander Avenue while crossing the street to get to her school bus. Police said she later died at the hospital.
Authorities located the vehicle involved in the crash just hours later and identified a person of interest in the case.
According to family members, a viewing of Rodriguez-Gonzalez took place Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service, located at 3015 Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce.
A mass will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Treasure Coast Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church, located at 305 South 24th Street in Fort Pierce.
A burial service will take place immediately following the mass at the White City Cemetery, located at 3800 Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Pierce.
WPTV spoke with the victim's advocate for Yaceny’s family on Tuesday. They’re expecting not only their close friends and family at the visitation, but also people around the community who were devastated by her death and wanting to give the family their condolences.
That advocate said while the family continues to ask for privacy, they are so appreciative of the donations, outreach, food, and all kinds of support they are feeling from the community.
Even the memorial site where the hit-and-run happened keeps getting bigger every day.
WPTV first reported last week that Yaceny’s death has prompted safety changes to her bus stop.
But police said there is still no arrest in the case, though they have the car and a person of interest.
That victim's advocate has been with the family nearly every day helping them stay stong during the unbearable task of planning a child's funeral. But she;s also helping them think of ways to tribute and remember their little girl.
"I think the family would want everyone to know that she was a little 10-year-old who loved school, loved the color pink, loved to go to the park, was very smart, was very well liked by teachers, her classmates. She was just a very special girl," Lissette Maldonado said.
There will be vigil Friday at Maribella Park on Oleander Avenue. People are to bring their own eco-friendly lanterns or balloons, preferable pink ones for Yaceny’s favorite color.