A 14-year-old Northfield girl has died from injuries after she was hit by a car while biking to high school soccer practice last week.
Melanie Valencia died Thursday night at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where she had been in critical condition since Tuesday’s crash, according to a Caring Bridge page. She was taken off life support after tests showed she had no brain activity.
Valencia was struck at Jefferson Parkway and Afton Street, a few blocks from Spring Creek Park, shortly before 6 p.m., Northfield police said. She was treated at the scene before being airlifted to HCMC.
The driver of the car — an 18-year-old Northfield man — was not injured. He was cooperative with officers and state troopers investigating the crash, police said.
Brent Kivell, Valencia’s former coach with the Northfield Soccer Association and Northfield Middle School, said she was struck while biking to soccer fields for a captain’s practice in preparation for her first season at Northfield High School. Her injuries included severe head trauma.
“Without a doubt Melanie was one of the most talented players I have ever had the pleasure to coach,” Kivell wrote in a GoFundMe page he organized last week. “But her talent on the field paled in comparison to the person she was off the field. She was kind, courteous, respectful and encouraging. Those were the traits that led her to being named a captain on her summer team earlier this year.”
Valencia was born in Wildomar, Calif., and moved with her family to Northfield in 2012, according to an online obituary. She attended Greenvale Park Elementary School and completed the 8th grade at Northfield Middle School in June.
“Melanie loved soccer and was a leader both on and off the field,” the obituary read. “She brought out the best in others and was loving, kind, courteous, always smiling, encouraging and 100% committed to doing her best.”
Funeral services were held Sunday in Northfield.