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Community grieves death of 7-year-old boy
Jack Castro

A 7-year-old boy was struck and killed by a minivan while riding his scooter outside his Richmond Hill home Friday night.

Jack Ridley was a first-grader at Richmond Hill Primary School. 

The Georgia State Patrol said the boy was riding a Razor scooter south on Brisbon Road about 344 feet from Kepler Road when he was hit by a southbound minivan driven by a Richmond Hill woman.

The GSP report  said the accident occurred on a "dark, unlit stretch" of the road and the child was "not visible to the driver."   

The minivan driver was given a blood test for DUI, the report said, standard procedure in such incidents.  No arrests were made.

Emily Ridley confirmed her son's death on social media, writing, "I appreciate the kind words, thoughts and prayers. He was a genuine kid with a heart of gold. We are hanging on."

On Sunday, an online fundraising effort was started to "help give the family the proper amount of time to heal without having to worry about bills looming over their heads."

The GoFundMe page, found at this link has raised more than $12,500 of its $25,000 goal by noon Monday.

April Lovins, who is the mother of Jack's best friend, started the fundraiser. "Anyone who knew him, knew he was a hilarious, charismatic kid and was full of life and energy. You could often find him playing outside with his sisters and friends," Lovins said on the GoFundMe page.

To view the GoFundMe please visit: https://gf.me/v/c/gfm/life-after-loss-in-memory-of-jack

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