CEDAR CITY — Allison Sousa loved to show up at her dad's work every day after school and nibble on sweets.
"It was her job to eat all the candy in the candy dish," said Joy Denmark, vice president of Cedar Valley Truss, where Sousa's father, Kenny, has worked for more than nine years. "Allie was loved by a lot of people here."
Allison, 7, a petite, dark-haired child with a bubbly personality, died Tuesday morning not far from her father's workplace in a freak accident witnessed by two students who attend Cross Hollows Intermediate School.
The girl was waiting at her bus stop on Iron Springs Road, just off U-59 when one of her aunts stopped to pick up mail at the cluster box placed just off the roadway. Allison apparently opened the rear passenger side door and asked for a ride to school, which her aunt Patricia Hilliard said she couldn't give her because she wasn't going into town.
But when Allison closed the car door, the sleeve of her coat became caught in the door frame and Hilliard drove off, unaware her niece was running alongside the vehicle.
The boy and girl waiting at the stop tried to chase Hilliard down, Iron County sheriff's detective Jody Edwards said. Hilliard was driving a gray 2003 Nissan Altima with the radio on and apparently didn't notice anything wrong, he said.
The driver of a semitrailer truck, who was traveling in the opposite direction, also noticed the little girl being dragged at the side of Hilliard's vehicle, Edwards said.
"He laid on the horn and flashed his lights for all he was worth, but she didn't stop," Edwards said. "He also pulled the button to lock up his rig and then he jumped out and started chasing her down the street. That's what finally got her attention."
By the time Hilliard pulled over, she had driven 3 1/2 miles from the bus stop at speeds of up to 65 mph on U-59.
Hilliard placed Allison's body on her lap, turned around and drove to Cedar Valley Truss, where she also works cleaning the offices.
The boy who witnessed the accident had already run back toward the business and called 911. Allison Sousa's father, Kenny, is employed at the truss plant as a safety monitor. Patricia Hilliard is Kenny Sousa's sister.
Allison was pronounced dead by the sheriff's deputy who arrived first on the scene. The deputy is also an emergency medical technician and could not get a pulse, Edwards said.
"She had multiple injuries," he said, adding it was obvious the little girl was dead.
A blood sample was taken from Hilliard, with her permission, Edwards said. Results are expected back in a couple of weeks, although Edwards said there is no indication drugs or alcohol played any role in the accident.
At Allison's school Wednesday morning, children still grieved the loss of a friend many had come to know and love.
"We had a remembrance this morning for the kids to just talk about Allison and what she was like," said Judi Hickman, administrative secretary at North Elementary School, where Allison has been a student since entering kindergarten midway 2 1/2 years ago.
"We have a memorial board just inside the front door of the school, and people are bringing flowers and other things for her," Hickman said. "Some of the classes are making cards for Allison that'll be displayed in the hallway for everyone to read."
Members of the school's PTA brought strands of frothy, pink ribbon, reflecting Allison's favorite color, for each student and employee to wear. More of the pastel ribbons adorned a fence lining the school sidewalk, flapping wildly in a blustery wind. A sign with the words, "We love you Allison," was also anchored to the fence.
Hundreds of people have already called the school, the Iron County School District main office and the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce to see what they can do to help, Hickman said.
"The outpouring of love is just tremendous," she said. "People are concerned and they want to help. One lady from Salt Lake called and said she wanted us to send her a picture of Allison so she could make a memory quilt for her father. It's just been phenomenal. I am just so grateful that we live where we do."
Kenny Sousa, 44, was a dedicated father whose life centered on his little girl, according to Hickman and Denmark.
"He loved her," Hickman said. "He was here at school two or three times a week. He was a very concerned parent, and he tried really, really hard."
Kenny Sousa's co-workers are planning to donate a portion of their paychecks to help defray funeral costs, Denmark said.
"Kenny has a job; he won't miss a paycheck. He'll get whatever he needs. He's a simple, trustworthy, reliable person, and he's the best dad," Denmark said. "Kenny would come in an hour after everyone else just so he could make sure Allie got to the bus stop. If she was sick, he stayed home with her. We knew he was a single dad, and we supported him in that."
Funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday at Southern Utah Mortuary, and the burial will be in the Cedar City Cemetery. A fund has been set up in Allison Sousa's name at all Wells Fargo Bank locations. Donations, sympathy cards and other items can be directed to the Iron County School District Foundation, 2077 W. Royal Hunt Drive, Cedar City, UT 84720.
Cards and donations are also being collected at Cedar Valley Truss, 553 N. Iron Springs Road, Cedar City, UT 84720.
E-mail: nperkins@infowest.com