Girl hit by SUV dies

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP - Rebecca Wells of Perrysburg Township, who was seriously hurt in car accident Thursday afternoon, died from her injuries on Saturday.

Neighbors, friends and family gathered Saturday evening to remember her.

Witnesses said Rebecca darted out into Reitz Road during a game of tag in front of the Village Green mobile home park.

Douglas K. Rhodes of Bowling Green in a gray SUV was traveling down Reitz Road at the same time. He swerved and tried to avoid her. Instead, he hit the girl with the front driver's side of the vehicle, the witnesses said.

The force the collision knocked off one of her shoes. It laid in the grass in front of the home.

Saturday evening Rebecca's shoe rested in the middle of a crowd of stuffed animals, candles and a cross - a make-shift memorial built by the community.

She spent less than two days in critical condition at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo. after fighting from the critical injuries she suffered, Rebecca passed away.

Dozens of people gathered, telling their favorite stories about Rebecca. They said she was a fun-loving kid, always smiling and laughing.

"That's what I'll cherish. Her laughter."

With these memories comes news that Rebecca is already helping save other children, through organ donation. She's saved three kids lives - a brave act for her mom to actually do.

Prayers went out not just for Rebecca and her family, but also for the man who was driving the SUV. Many said he did everything in his power to try and keep this tragic event from happening.

"He came up to me that day and said that he wished that it wasn't a kid. He wished that it was anything else but a kid."

As the community grieves, one of the hardest things is explaining to the other kids, where Rebecca went.

"Rebecca's your angel," said Penni Fowls, "and she's watching over you playing, keeping you safe."

(FOX Toledo's Barrett Andrews contributed to this report)