A single blue balloon tossed by the wind Friday on the side of a road where a middle school student was killed when hit by a vehicle.
Brandon Heard Jr., 11, was killed Thursday afternoon when he was struck by a vehicle on an east Tampa road.
- Student, 11, struck by vehicle in Tampa
- Brandon Heard Jr. was killed just before 5 p.m.
- He died of his injuries at Tampa General Hospital
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Heard was killed just before 5 p.m. when he ran across Orient Road just north of 29th Street.
The boy was struck by a 2006 Hyundai Sonata driven by a 47-year-old woman. Deputies said she tried to swerve to avoid hitting the boy but he was struck by the left front of her vehicle.
Heard, a Mann Middle School student, was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he died of his injuries.
School Principal Barbara Fillhart said Heard was a funny child who made kids laugh and was very smart.
"He was full of hope, joyful, intelligent," Fillhart said.