JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of a man hit by an SUV and killed Monday night on Southside Boulevard while stopping to help someone else spoke Tuesday.
Everett Givens, 39, was struck at the intersection of Southside and Deer Creek Club Road near the Avenues Mall.
Givens' mother, who's a pastor, said prayer is helping her deal with the loss of her son. She is also praying for her granddaughter, who was with her father when he stopped to help and saw it all happen.
"I continue to pray and just giving it to the Lord to just strengthen me right now," Barbara Lane said.
Lane was calm as she spoke about her only child. Givens was married and the father of three. He was with his oldest daughter as they were driving to a Southside store and stopped to help someone who was involved in an accident.
While standing in the median, Givens was hit by an SUV. Police said the 71-year-old driver didn't see him when she turned into the intersection.
"I am praying for them and admonishing them to be strong," Lane said. "And my granddaughter, I am really praying for her and encouraging her, because she felt so bad because she had asked her father to take her to the store. And she saw -- she was there and saw him."
Lane said her son would have stopped no matter what. She said he was always helpful.
Lane said her family is doing well right now, but she said she was so upset when she got the call about what happened and then learned shortly afterward her son had died. Lane said others can learn from this.
"I would just remind people to hold your loved ones dear, hold them close each and every day. You need to tell them you love them," Lane said. "I am one that will text my son every day and give him some kind of word of encouragement just to say, 'I love you.' I did that all the time."