News

Actions

Student will never play on field she helped make

Posted at 2:02 PM, Sep 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-10 16:02:24-04

Click here for updates on this story

    Cincinnati, OH (WCPO) — A year ago, Gabriella Rodriguez went to the principal of her high school and told him the girl’s softball team needed its own field.

Dr. Carlos Blair, principal of Western Hills High School, said that’s how Rodriguez was; she was direct, proactive and an excellent athlete. She was so proactive, in fact, that the field will be ready later this year.

But Rodriguez will never get to play on the field she helped build. The 15-year-old freshman was hit and killed by a driver on Harrison Avenue as she was running to catch her bus Monday morning.

Rodriguez fell in the street when she was bumped by the mirror of a silver minivan, police said. When she tried to get back up, she was hit by a person driving a white Toyota Corolla.

The driver hit her near Sarvis Court, near the border between North Fairmount and East Westwood, at about 6:30 a.m. as she was running to catch her Metro bus. She was not in a crosswalk. Police are still looking for the driver.

Blair said Rodriguez was an excellent student with a great sense of humor. He said she reminded him last year that the girl’s softball team was winning championships and that the team could use their own field.

“Unfortunately, she won’t be able to play on that field,” Blair said. “Our hearts are very heavy right now.”

Rodriguez was outgoing, and “many of the students loved her dearly,” Blair said.

“That’s what really makes it even more difficult to deal with, because of her popularity and outgoing spirit,” Blair said.

The field, which is adjacent to Dater High School, had to be revamped in order to get it up and running for the girl’s softball team.

Blair said he would like to dedicate a part of the field or create a plaque in Rodriguez’s honor.

A crisis team of psychologists and therapists will be at Western Hills High School Monday for students and staff.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.