A makeshift memorial continues to grow at the intersection where a 12-year-old girl was killed while riding a bicycle in east Tampa.
Investigators say Geraldo Rivera, 48, of Tampa, was driving north on N 15th Street around 9:45 p.m Friday when he stopped for a red light at E Osborne Avenue and turned right, crashing into Natalia Leonard of Tampa.
Leonard became lodged under Rivera's 1999 Ford van and was dragged about 200 feet, police said. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Friends say her smile stood out, unlike any other.
Family friend Darlene Hodge said she performed CPR on Natalia after the accident.
“All I could do was talk to her and let her know she wasn't alone, that we were there with her,” said Hodge. “She’s in God’s hands now. We’re the ones who are sorry we’re still here and have to put up with people like that who would hit and child and not stop.”
Rivera was charged Saturday with leaving the scene of a crash with death.
Hodge said Natalia attended Monroe Middle School. She also said she was a twin.
"She was fun she laughed smiled she had a big heart," said friend Randi Hodge.
Natalia would have turned 13 in October. Police originally gave her age as 11.
“Rest in peace she was a great girl she had a great soul," said neighbor Jodiyan Medero.
Rivera fled the scene and returned to his home on the 900 block of East 26th Avenue, where he was located by officers, police said.
The crash happened in a residential and small business area east of Interstate 275 and south of Hillsborough Avenue.
According to an arrest affadavit, the bicycle Natalia was riding was still lodged on the undercarriage of the van once Rivera returned home.