Candlelight vigil held for kindergartner struck by minivan

A 5-year-old Ramona girl who was accidentally run over by a minivan her mother drove Oct. 17, was remembered by a crowd that gathered for a candlelight vigil Sunday evening.

The vigil for Bella Noble was held at Harbour Farm & Vineyard on State Route 67, not far from the scene of the accident. Bella and her family had visited the pumpkin farm the weekend before the accident.

Bella, her mother and siblings were at a friend’s house at 3306 Carnation Avenue last Thursday when, about 5:20 p.m., Bella ran behind her mother’s 2000 Chevrolet Astro van in an attempt to open a gate as her mother was backing up, according to authorities.

The girl’s father, William Noble, told reporters that night that his wife was backing up and unaware that Bella and their other children were on the van’s bumper, and that Bella had jumped off.

“The mother lost sight of her daughter and felt a bump at the rear of her vehicle and realized she may have struck

her child,” said California Highway Patrol in a statement. “Not realizing she had run over her daughter, she pulled forward and struck her child a second time.”

Paramedics flew Bella to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where she died a short time later.

On a website set up for Bella, www.bellabenefit.com, Noble is quoted as saying, “Just hug your kids. Love them. Make time for them. Do everything they ask you, even if you have to dress up funny, because you never know when they’re not going to be here anymore.”

Harbour Farm & Vineyard owner Dave Harbour said he will honor Bella’s life by creating a garden at the farm in her name, Bella’s Garden, with trees and flowers that the family can choose. A savings account has been set up for the family to accept donations for funeral and other expenses. More information on donating is at www.bellabenefit.com.