By Katherine Creag
NBC New York:

A 13-year-old girl is being hailed a hero for saving six other children from being hit by an out-of-control SUV in Brooklyn before she was struck and killed by the vehicle.

Those who knew Kira Goddard described her as a protector, so it was no surprise to them that the teen sprang into action when the SUV came toward her, her sister and several friends.

“That was like her,” said Diane Jordan, a relative. “She always looked out for others. I’m going to miss her.”

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The children had been at the entrance of their apartment building in Brownsville when, at about 10:15 p.m., they noticed the driver of a Range Rover approaching erratically down Pacific Street.

Goddard managed to shepherd the others into the building. But everything happened so fast, witnesses said, that Goddard had no time to save herself.

The SUV struck and pinned her, and Goddard died.

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