North Tulsa community holds vigil for 7-year-old run over by car, look to make intersection safer

TULSA - North Tulsa's Virgin and North Harvard Avenue was a painfully busy intersection Thursday night, the spot of an evening vigil for a 7-year-old hit and killed by a car Wednesday morning on his way to school.

Dozens gathered from around the city to remember Elijah Rivers.

"He was a vibrant young man at 7 years old," said Elijah's mother, Kesha Rivers. "He loved to play sports. He loved to play music. He loved to play on the drums, the keyboard. He loved church."

Candles lit a growing memorial, illuminating the grief of a community.

Several city leaders and neighbors came together hours earlier to discuss how to make the intersection safer.

"We don't want that to happen again, so we're on top of this and we're bringing some resources together to try and continually improve this situation over here," said District 3 Councilor David Patrick.

Neighbors hope to add more crosswalks and broaden the school zone. They are also pushing for lights in the area, and hope to call them "Elijah's Lights."

Rivers' family is asking for donations, in lieu of flowers, to help with funeral costs.

Donations will be accepted for the "Elijah D. Rivers Fund" at an Arvest Bank.