Melody, 8, played hockey, guitar and was her family’s pride and joy

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This little eight-year-old girl killed by a vehicle in Oakville last week was a hockey player with a big heart.

Melody Xu was also a guitar player, a big sister, someone who loved to dress up for Halloween and a person who always had a smile on her face.

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In her short life, she put a lot of smiles on a lot of people’s faces as well.

Sadly, she’s now gone – way too soon.

Melody and her mom were struck by an SUV that careened from the roadway out on North Service Rd., near Lindsay Dr., just before 4 p.m. on Nov. 6.

“She was riding her scooter,” someone close to the family said. “Melody died in hospital because of the injuries and her mom is still in hospital.”

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MAN, 47, CHARGED

Halton Regional Police have charged Ajai Rana, 47, with dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death.

He was released on an undertaking but is scheduled to appear in Milton court on Dec. 9.

The charges have not been tested in court and he is considered innocent until proven guilty.

This is as bad as it gets. And the community has responded.

Oakville is hurting over this – especially her fellow St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School peers and her teammates on the Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey team.

The Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey Association issued a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our little Hornet, Melody Xu. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and her U9 Hornets teammates during this unimaginable time.”

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COMMUNITY ‘DEVASTATED’ SAYS CHIEF TANNER

Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner said the “whole community” is suffering over this.

“Everybody is devastated,” he said. “The first picture I saw was the one in her hockey uniform and it was so upsetting.”

“Our deepest condolences go out to her family, her friends and her fellow hockey players.” the Chief said, adding “the officers, and all of the first responders who went to this call, are very upset as well.”

What a tragedy felt by so many.

MORE THAN $224,000 RAISED TO HELP FAMILY

With the mother still recovering in hospital and the family broken, funeral arrangements have been delayed and are still pending. There are also family members flying in from China to help during this crisis.

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So far, a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign has raised $224,000 to help Melody’s parents bury their much-loved little treasure and help the mom heal while other family duties need to be managed for the father who cannot work at this terrible time.

No amount of money can replace what was lost here.

“The fatal accident caused mom and daughter to be rushed to the hospital, where sweet, beautiful, loving Melody, took her last breath,” Ana Lopez states in the GoFundMe appeal. “Now, they face not only the unimaginable grief of losing their little girl while also caring for their younger son (just three) – but also mounting practical burdens: medical bills, funeral and memorial costs, time off work, ongoing care and recovery for their mother, and the long road ahead emotionally and financially.”

There’s nothing that can be done in his horrible story to bring this little girl back.

But what we can do is make sure the little dynamo Melody is never forgotten.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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