Family remembers 12-year-old killed in wreck

ATLANTA, Ga. — A memorial is growing near the very spot where an accident took the life of a 12-year-old girl.

For the first time, Channel 2 Action News heard from the family of Symia Knight Sunday afternoon.

Channel 2's Jade Hernandez went to English Park in northwest Atlanta to talk to the family, who shared fond memories and thanked everyone for their support.

Hernandez saw the memorial filled with balloons, teddy bears, and purple all around, Symia's favorite color. Everyone stood in a circle around the mementos brought to remember her.

On Friday, she died in an accident near Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Fulton Industrial Boulevard.

Police say a driver failing to yield struck the car carrying Symia, her brother, sister and mother as they traveled through the intersection. Ahead of schedule, they were headed to McDonald's before school.

"But then she just died right next by me," said her brother Calvin Knight.

Her father says drivers need to slow down.

"Just take your time," said Calvin West.

"Oh, she's going to be so missed. And she had so many friends. She loved her friends," said Shacora Knight, Symia's mother. "She always said 'Mommy, I have so many best friends. Everybody's my best friend."

Those "best friends" created an Instagram page for her – "Rest in peace, Symia."

Her family members say their peace will be much harder to find.

"I just wanted to come, because this is where it happened, just to be in her spirit," her mom said.

Police cited the driver responsible for the accident, Robert Culver, for failing to yield and second-degree vehicular homicide – both misdemeanors.

WSBTV