WINDSOR – The tragic and untimely death of a 10-year-old girl has left the community reeling following an accident here early Monday evening.

Jamesha Tyona Miller, 10, of Windsor, was killed after she was struck by a vehicle on US 17 in the southern part of town.

The incident occurred at 6:42 p.m. close to the National Guard Armory just inside the US 13/17 bypass construction zone.

According to First Sergeant K. P. Pitts of North Carolina Highway Patrol Troop A District II, Miller was attempting to cross the roadway from right to left when she was struck.

The driver of the vehicle was Francis Darrell Taylor Jr., 51, also of Windsor.

Taylor, who drove a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck, was not speeding and was not found to be at fault in the accident.

&uot;It was just one of those horrible things, but it was not his (Taylor’s) fault,&uot; Pitts stated.

Taylor’s vehicle was traveling north on US 17 when Miller apparently darted out in front of it, unaccompanied by an adult.

&uot;There was a 17-year-old with her on the shoulder (of the road) and another 17-year-old that had already crossed the road. Jamesha started to cross the road without the person still with her and was hit by the truck,&uot; Pitts said.

The two teenagers were reportedly Miller’s cousins.

Bertie Rescue transported Miller to Bertie Memorial Hospital, where she died shortly after arrival.

Miller was a fourth grade student at Windsor Elementary School and according to Bertie County Schools Public Information Officer Brent Todd, she lived with her mother, Mary &uot;Tonya&uot; Miller, and two sisters, ages one and four.

In a statement released on behalf of BCS Superintendent Dr. Chip Zullinger and Board of Education Chairman Rickey Freeman, the two expressed condolences to the family and sadness at Miller’s death.

&uot;The passing of a child is as tragic an event imaginable.

We are deeply, deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of our own,&uot; the statement read.

It continued, &uot;Regardless of the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss, our focus is on her family, her friends and her school family.

Please join us in wishing comfort to those who loved Jamesha and those who considered her a friend.&uot;

Services for Miller are scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 3 in the gymnasium at Bertie Academy (formerly Southwestern Middle School).

A visitation will be held Saturday at Gillam Funeral Home in Windsor from 7-8 p.m.

Social workers in the school system are available for counseling those in need at Windsor Elementary School.

Cards may also be sent to the school at 104 Cooper Hill Road, Windsor NC 27983.