Loved ones remember hit and run victim on birthday

KENDALL, Fla. (WSVN) -- As a somber birthday arrives after a teen's life ended in a hit and run, her family and friends are paying special tribute to her.

Friday, Kaely Camacho's loved ones are honoring her memory by trying to keep the day, which would have marked her 14th birthday, uplifting. Camacho's sister and mother, along with several of her friends, visited a tattoo parlor on Friday as part of their tribute to her. Most of the tattoos, they said, are butterflies, as Kaely loved butterflies.

Carly Yelmen, Kaely's friend, remembered noticing many butterflies not long after Kaely's death. "When Kaely passed away ... butterflies," she said, "an insane amount of butterflies would come to breed."

Her mother also said Kaely had one special request before she died. "She said, 'This year, Mom, I want to be in Miami with all my friends for my birthday,'" said Angie Camacho, "so we're gonna honor her tonight, and we're gonna get together with all her friends."

Other tattoos included Kaely's name and initials. They said they want something positive to remember her by and want her to always be with them in some way.

There was also a graveside memorial with balloons and flowers. Her family and friends sang "Happy Birthday" to her before releasing 14 blue balloons.

Camacho died back in April, after a drunk driver crashed into her family's minivan. The driver responsible later fled on foot, but police arrested him soon after.

Bree Ann Camacho, Kaely's Sister, survived that same accident. She said, "God has opened my eyes. There's a purpose for me. There's a purpose why I survived. Like, if someone will almost come and hit us again, or something like that, and I'll freak out. It's almost like God is telling me, 'Look, I can take your life at any moment right now, you know? You're here for a purpose.' That's what he's trying to show me."

The friends and family said they also want to push for advocacy against drunk driving in order to remember their deceased loved one.

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