By Michael Morton
The girl, identified by a family member as Alexia Reid, was taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, where she was pronounced dead, police said. She was hit at 8:02 p.m. by a red 1995 Ford Aerostar traveling east, police said, after riding her bike into the street on 113th Avenue between Springfield Boulevard and 219th Street. Further details about the accident were not available, but police said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by the 77-year-old driver of the van, a man whose name was not released. Though the man was not arrested or charged, Reid's sister said the girl and her bike ended up crushed beneath the van, indicating a high rate of speed.”There's a lot of people that speed from Springfield Boulevard,” Ashley Stultz, 18, said. “He had to be speeding for her to go under the car. It makes me angry – he should know better.”Stultz said the neighborhood had asked for speed bumps but their requests were turned down. The neighborhood is used as a shortcut for delivery vehicles, City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) said.”I've never been happy with the way the state has allowed vans to use side streets,” Comrie said. “It's incumbent on the state to make the streets safe.” It could not be determined if the Ford Aerostar was being used for commercial or private purposes.By Tuesday, friends and family of Alexia had placed on the north side of 113th Avenue a small memorial composed of flowers, candles and a small plastic angel. Alexia, the second oldest of her mother's five daughters, had recently returned from visiting her father in Washington state and on Friday was just down the street from her home after riding over from a cousin's house. The 10-year-old would have been a fifth-grader this fall at PS 147 in St. Albans, where she earned good grades.”She would tutor kids who were older than her,” Stultz said. “She was always ahead of the class.”In addition to bike riding, Alexia liked to draw, swim, take photos and entertain her family. She was also quick to show affection to family and friends.Said Stultz: “She always found a reason to hug people.”Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
