NEED TO KNOW
- Authorities said an 8-year-old girl died in a car crash caused by black ice on Jan. 22
- The girl has been identified as Scarlett Hoskins, who reportedly was on her way to school when the crash occurred
- Three others, including the girl’s 6-year-old sister, were injured in the crash
An 8-year-old girl is being remembered by family after she died in a car crash that authorities said was triggered by black ice.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) said in a report that the crash occurred on State Route 63 in Claiborne County around 7:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 22, according to ABC affiliate WATE and NBC affiliate WBIR.
An SUV was traveling north on the roadway when it came into contact with black ice, causing the vehicle to slide off the right side of the road, THP said. The car hit a mailbox before its front end struck a rock embankment, then spun around and came to an uncontrolled stop.
An 8-year-old died from the crash while three others — two adults and a 6-year-old child — were injured. THP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The child who died has been identified as Scarlett Hoskins, according to WATE and WBIR. She reportedly was on her way to school at the time of the crash.
Alex Hoskins, Scarlett’s dad, described his daughter as a bright and bubbly girl to the local news stations. He said he has been leaning on his faith in wake of the tragedy.
“She was always doing the right thing, and the kindest little girl,” Alex told WBIR. “She cared about others more than she did anything.”
Speaking with WATE, Alex said his late daughter will be “forever our little angel.” He also called her his “hero.”
“She helped hold me together a lot of times when I needed it,” the father told WATE. “I believe our little girl would be super proud, knowing how big of an impact she made.”
A Claiborne County Schools (CCS) administrator said the 8-year-old was a student at Ellen Myers Primary School (EMPS) and is the third student in the district to die this school year, according to WBIR.
Grief counselors have been made available to students and staff at the school, the administrator said. CCS did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
THP said the two kids who were in the car were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, but the two adults were not, according to WATE.
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The 6-year-old who was injured, identified by Alex as his daughter Skyla, underwent surgery at the hospital and has since returned home, WATE reported.
More than $8,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe started to help Scarlett and Skyla’s family with funeral and medical expenses following the crash. A second fundraiser has been set up by Scarlett and Skyla’s school.
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