Clarkston, GA — Apendeki Masanga, 7, died after being struck by a vehicle on April 10. Masanga was a student at Idlewood Elementary School in Tucker.

A police report said the child darted out into traffic near Montreal Road and Montreal Creek Circle in Clarkston. Masanga was treated on the scene and later died of internal injuries, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Masanga is one of eight children, including a twin brother. According to a Go Fund Me page, the twins “went everywhere together and were in the same class at school.” Masanga spoke Swahili and English, and loved sharing her culture with classmates.

Idlewood Elementary counselor Denisha M. Brown posted on social media that she loves all of her students, but Masanga held a special place in her heart.

“She gave the best hugs, her laugh was contagious, her smile and personality was like none other. She was the best helper to her classmates, teacher and me as her counselor,” Brown wrote.

The Tucker Observer is a new community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.

For more Tucker news, follow us on Facebook by clicking here. Follow us on Twitter by clicking here. 

Want the latest news from the Tucker Observer delivered to your inbox every morning? Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter. 

To become a paying supporter of Tucker Observer, click here.