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Child Mourned At Vigil

News Channel 8 image by PAUL LAMISON

Michael Johnson holds a picture of his daughter, Tatum, during a vigil Saturday night.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2008

TAMPA - At a vigil for his 7-year-old daughter Saturday night, Michael Johnson said the girl was a social butterfly who loved animals.

"She was a good kid, a very good kid," he said. "And I'm proud of her and I thank God that he gave me some time to spend with this little girl."

Tatum Johnson

His daughter, Tatum Johnson, was playing in the middle of a dirt road at a mobile home park off East 148th Ave. on Friday night when she was hit by a vehicle driven by her neighbor, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

She was taken to University Community Hospital where she later died from her injuries, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

Roland Rodriguez, 26, the driver of the Subaru that apparently struck Tatum, took the child and her parents to the hospital, Callaway said.

Rodriguez lives on Lot 7 at the mobile home park on 1510 E. 148th Ave. and Tatum's family lives on Lot 4, Callaway said.

At the vigil Saturday, neighbors, family and friends came out to celebrate Tatum's life. They lit candles and looked at pictures of the little girl.

"She was a happy child," Michael Johnson said. "She was a very lovable child. She loved everybody."

News Channel 8 photojournalist Paul Lamison contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 4433 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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