Funeral services scheduled for 4-year-old fatally struck by car
Funeral services for Violeta Khachatoorians, the 4-year-old girl fatally struck in a hit-and-run collision on March 6 are scheduled to take place next week.
The viewing will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn in Glendale, and the funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the same location, said family friend and neighbor Arshak Bareghamyan. Forest Lawn is located at 1712 S. Glendale Ave.
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Violeta was in her frontyard with her parents and sister Friday evening when she ran in between two parked cars and into traffic. She was struck by an oncoming car before her dad, who ran after her while yelling her name, could reach her, Bareghamyan said.
Bareghamyan ran outside after hearing a “loud bang” and screams, and saw Violeta’s dad carry his daughter to the lawn, where police attempted to resuscitate her before paramedics arrived.
Violeta was transported to Glendale Adventist Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The driver turned himself in the following morning.
Violeta’s death shocked the Glendale community, but also sparked the generosity of loved ones and strangers alike, with donors contributing more than $45,000 to various fundraisers for her family.
Nearly 600 donors have contributed more than $41,000 to a mayor-initiated crowdfunding campaign, which can be found at crowdrise.com/violetakhachaturyan, while a campaign set up by a relative, which can be found at tilt.com/campaigns/help-cover-violetas-funeral/description, has raised more than $4,000.
“Through conversations with the family members and neighbors, it became clear that this family has severe difficulties in their lives,” said Mayor Zareh Sinanyan, adding that Violeta’s older sister is autistic and wheelchair-bound. “They’re economically severely, severely challenged to the extent that they would have difficulty meeting expenses associated with the funeral.”
To donate to a Bank of America fund set up for her family, visit any Bank of America branch and ask to contribute to the “Violeta Khachatoorians Funeral Funds” account.
Checks can also be made out to “GPOA Cops for Kids” with indication on the memo line that the donation is for Violeta’s family. Questions regarding donations can be addressed to the association’s office at (818) 246-9053.
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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
Twitter: @atchek
