Girl Bicyclist Killed In SUV Crash Identified As Novato 7th Grader
NOVATO (CBS SF) - The Marin County coroner's office has identified the 12-year-old Novato girl who died Thursday afternoon when her bicycle collided with an SUV as Hailey Ratliff.
Coroner's office Lt. Keith Boyd said an autopsy was scheduled for today.
Ratliff was riding west on Novato Boulevard west of Sutro Avenue when she was struck in the roadway by an eastbound SUV around 3 p.m., Novato police said.
The name of the driver has not been released, but he stopped and cooperated with the investigation, Sgt. Jennifer Welch said.
There were no signs of impairment or traffic violations Thursday afternoon, Welch said.
More information about the collision will be available early next week as the traffic unit continues its investigation, Welch said. Any witnesses are asked to contact the Novato Police Department.
Ratliff was rushed to Novato Community Hospital and was then flown to Oakland Children's Hospital and Research Center, where she died at about 5:30 p.m., Welch said.
Ratliff's first day of school at Sinaloa Middle School was Aug. 22, Novato Unified School District spokeswoman Leslie Benjamin said.
Her family reportedly recently moved from Albuquerque, N.M.
Counselors were available for students and staff Friday morning, Benjamin said.
They were informed of Ratliff's death during their first-period class, a school spokeswoman said.
Novato Unified School District Superintendent Shalee Cunningham said, "The entire Novato community is shocked and saddened by the tragic death of one of our students, Hailey Ratliff, a seventh-grader at Sinaloa Middle School."
Cunningham said counselors will be at three schools next week.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family," Cunningham said.
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