MESA -- An 11-year-old Mesa girl who was out for a bike ride with her family was hit and killed by a teenage driver Tuesday evening.
It happened at approximately 6:15 p.m. in the area of Brown and Lindsay roads in Mesa.
According to Mesa police Detective Steve Berry, Allison Bowers was riding bikes with her father and her 8-year-old sister. They were heading northbound on Creston with Allison trailing slightly behind as they crossed Brown Road.
A 16-year-old driving a Dodge pickup truck on westbound Brown Road reportedly was going around a vehicle in front of him. The teen did not see the girl and hit her. Allison was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
No charges have been filed at this point.
Berry said impairment and speed do not appear to be factors in the collision.
Grief counselors were at Hale Elementary School to help students cope with the news of their classmate.
"Allison is a quiet girl who enjoys reading, writing and drawing. She is a wonderful writer, and her stories described her family outings and activities," said Allison's teacher, Mrs. Ferguson. "For an assignment at the beginning the school year, the children selected a hero. Allison chose her mother because of the time they shared cooking, painting and enjoying books together. Allison was fond of snow."
Allison’s parents added, "She loved to play tag with her father and cared for her siblings."
