Keontae Hilderbrand, age 11, was murdered in a DUI collision in Virginia, and his family and friends are in mourning.

 Eleven-year-old Keontae Hilderbrand died in a crash in Henry County, Virginia, and his family is devastated. Keontae, a brilliant student and potential community leader, had just started sixth grade at Reidsville Middle School.

Authorities say that 60-year-old Charles Boulding of Eden, North Carolina, entered the center lane while driving under the influence of drugs, killing Keontae and 45-year-old mother of three Misty Holland. Boulding and two other injured individuals were escorted to the hospital and admitted. He is being accused of DUI while the inquiry is ongoing.

Keontae's grandma, Pamela Neal, expressed the family's grief and frustration: "He ought to have stayed at home. Had he [Boulding] not been on the road, my grandson would have been here with us today. His father, Timothy Hilderbrand, urged the public to consider the dire consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol. He added, "Think about the life you can take from someone who loves them."

Keontae has been attending the River Fest since he was six years old, and he was traveling to or from Eden for it. On Saturday at 2:00 p.m., the family will host a balloon release at Reidsville Middle School to honor the life of a little kid who died too soon.