Community members, after consulting the mother of Nolen Scott Jones, also have organized a candlelight vigil for 7:30 p.m. Saturday across from Minnick’s Drive Thru on Pleasant Avenue in Hamilton’s Lindenwald neighborhood.
“I have reached out to some local businesses to see if they could donate any candles for the vigil, but if anyone is able to bring some that would be great,” Ashley Wilson, a Lindenwald resident, posted to social media.
Wilson said she does not know Nolen’s mother or family, but as a mother, she wanted to help. The vigil is being organized by a friend of the family, Kristina Booher, but Wilson is spreading the word in the hopes of a strong showing of support for the family.
“I am a mother. There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for my children and I couldn’t begin to imagine the pain this family is feeling,” Wilson told the Journal-News. “I want them to feel the love and support that our community gives to those who need it”
Booher said the vigil is also to raise awareness to “the careless and recklessness of the speeding that happens in the community that affects each and everyone of us.”
She added “one loss is too many.”
Nolen’s brother, Logan Watson also was struck and injured. Booher said he is now at home and “missing his brother terribly. He’s trying to be strong and put on a strong face.”
The boys were on their way to get a Slushie when the tragic incident happened, she said.
Nolen had another bother and a sister, but Logan was his best friend.
“They were very close,” Booher said. “Nolen was such a fun loving kid. He loved fishing with is dad, he loved swimming, he loved making people laugh. He loved hanging with is momma. He was a momma’s boy.”
A GoFundMe account has also been established for the family.
Jones died of head injuries sustained when he was struck by a car while crossing Pleasant.
The Hamilton crash happened about 6:45 p.m. at Pleasant and Symmes avenues where the children crossed the road and were struck, according to police.
“Hamilton City Schools is saddened to learn that one of our Linden Elementary students was struck by a car last night and passed away. The Hamilton and Lindenwald Community is wishing the family strength and comfort in the days and weeks ahead,” Hamilton schools said in a statement.
The driver of the vehicle, Elizabeth Ann Marie Mehl, 30, of Corwin Avenue in Hamilton, was charged with OVI, felony drug abuse and child endangering because there were two children, ages 10 and 3, in the car at the time of the crash, according to the Hamilton Police report. She is free on $75,000 bond.
The cause of the crash and any charges related to the crash remain under investigation.
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