Bloomingdale Preschool Comes to Aid of Riverview Car Crash Victims

She loved butterflies, dragonflies, princesses and the color pink.

So, in honor of 5-year-old Lilly Christine Mills, those attending her funeral tomorrow are urged to wear pink.

Funeral services for the Riverview girl who died July 2 from injuries sustained in a drunk-driving accident at U.S. 301 and Bloomingdale Avenue will take place at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home, 6919 Providence Road in Riverview at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park. 

In the meantime, Lilly's preschool, at 3741 Canoga Park Drive in Bloomingdale East, is hosting a food drive and collecting funds for the family of the little girl.

"We're heartbroken," said preschool teacher Magda Garcia of the little girl who frequently wore pigtails. "She was such a sweet and shy little girl. She definitely will be missed."

"She was such a well-manned little girl," said Ann Rose, who volunteers at The Village. "It's very sad."

Lilly graduated from The Village last month and was looking forward to entering kindergarten, said her great-grandmother Sharon Trapp.

She died after the minivan she was riding in was broadsided by a car July 1. The driver of that car, Rolando Rojas, 52, of 120 E. Crenshaw St., Tampa, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence manslaughter, reckless driving involving serious injury, four counts of DUI involving property damage and DUI.

Lilly's mother, Samantha Anne Populin, 25, was driving the family's minivan with her husband, Paul Wilson Mills, 29, in the passenger seat. Also riding in the minivan were Lilly, Sophia, 2 1/2, the natural children of Populin and Mills, Kayla, 10, and Audrey, 7, Mills' children from a previous marriage.

Paul Mills, a tiler and carpenter, sustained severed neck and back injuries in the accident and is unable to return to work. 

Audrey also sustained facial injuries that will require plastic surgery.

Unfortunately, said Trapp, the driver who hit them had only $20,000 in insurance.

"That won't even cover one night in the hospital," said Trapp. "So, in addition to losing their little girl, this family has no way to pay their rent, utilities or medical bills."

Family members have established an account at Bank of America to collect donations to help the family.

In addition, The Village is collecting nonperishable food for the family in a bin just inside the preschool. 

"The family is vegetarian," said Ann Rose, "so we're collecting things such as canned vegetables, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, crackers, any nonperishable foods that don't contain meat."

The Village also is collecting funds for the account at Bank of America.

Anyone wishing to donate food or funds is invited to drop them off at The Village. 

The bank account is in the name of the Samantha Poulin/Paul Mills Contribution Fund at Bank of America, account no. 1800 4321000, 13180 U.S. 301 S., Riverview. Donations also can be sent directly to the family at their Riverview home, 8431 Valrie Lane, 33569.