PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A ‘Ghost Bike’ memorial was just removed from outside of Sugar Mill Elementary school in Port Orange after a family laid it there last week in honor of Shaolan Kamaly.
In May, 9-year-old Kamaly was fatally struck by a car while riding her bike in front of the school.
Now, there are no remaining memorials of the little girl, and that’s why her family and friends told News 6 they had put the Ghost Bike there.
“It’s been a difficult summer without her. We miss her so much, and just finding a healthy way to show those emotions,” said Tara Okhovatian.
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Okhovatian and her family put the Ghost Bike out next to the stop sign near where the crash happened. They painted it white and attached a plaque in her memory.
“It’s a demonstration that she’s not to be forgotten — that she’s to be remembered,” she said.
The process of putting the bike together, Okhovatian said, helped her and her son process the loss, but two days after they put it in front of the school, she was told to remove it, and police cut the locks.
“Of course, we want to find a way, to find the healthiest way, but that just seems like bologna,” she said.
News 6 reached out to the Volusia School District, which sent the following statement:
“We understand the deep care and thought that went into creating this memorial. However, we want to be mindful of the emotional impact on students, staff, and families as they enter the campus each day. In collaboration with the PTA and the family, we are working to find a meaningful way to honor the student within the school grounds. To that end, the school reached out to the individual who placed the bike to offer the opportunity to retrieve it before notifying law enforcement of the need to return it to the individual. Sugar Mill Elementary and VCS remain committed to finding a way to remember the student that brings comfort to everyone in our community. We will share more information with the school community as plans for an official memorial are finalized.”
Volusia County Public Schools
Now, with the loss of her memorial, Okhovatian hopes the schools follow through.
“Patience rolls out the red carpet for God’s grace, and we will see what happens,” she said. “A lot of people loved her. There was so much potential that’s just gone now.”
News 6 also checked in with Port Orange police for an update on their investigation into the crash, and we were told that vehicular investigations take a long time, especially with the technology aspect, and that they’re still investigating.
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