A tragedy occurred in Phoenix, Arizona when a 5-year-old boy loss his life in an accident. Authorities identified the little boy as Branden Weaver Jr.
Branden was with his brother waiting for his sister to get off the bus.
Police have reported that Branden ran into the street between two parked vehicles, and that was when he was hit by a pickup truck operated by a 71-year-old man.
It happened almost immediately.
Branden would often play with the grandchildren of Denise Nealy, a neighbor. “He was friendly, he was nice, caring, loving, funny,” said Nealy. “He was a good little boy.”
According to police reports, the driver waited at the scene and was questioned.
Police noted that there did not appear to be any indication that the driver was impaired in any way, or operating the vehicle above the speed limit.
When Nealy learned of Branden’s death, she gathered some of the kids from the neighborhood and coordinated a memorial in his honor.
Balloons and handwritten notes covered the fence near the area where the accident occurred.
Ericka Lewis, Branden’s mother, went to the memorial to light a candle.
Lewis said, “these people, they just came out here and did this for my baby because he was so nice, he was so sweet, he loved everybody. Because everybody falls in love with him.”
Lewis also expressed her anger towards the person who hit her son.
“The injuries that my baby suffered, there’s no way he was driving the speed limit,” said Lewis.
A GoFundMe account was organized for Branden to help cover the funeral expenses.
“They need speed bumps in this area for these babies, it’s dangerous out here. I wish they would help and come put speed bumps out here,” said Nealy.
Neighbors are putting pressure on city officials to make changes so that traffic in the neighborhood is slower.
