Friends and family are remembering a man struck and killed a week ago on a Fort Payne street as “an old soul” who had “the sweetest, most gentle heart.”

David Alexander Elkins, 19, was in the northbound lane of traffic in the 4100 block of Williams Ave. N.E. when he was struck by a 2013 Nissan Sentry, traveling north.

The incident happened Jan. 11.

Elkins was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Capt. David Barnes of Fort Payne police.

Elkins’ aunt, Allison Jones, has set up a GoFundMe page in his memory to raise money for funeral and family expenses.

According to Jones, Elkins was walking with his girlfriend and her two-year-old son to a convenience store near their home when the crash happened.

Elkins “was the best of us.” Jones wrote in a tribute.

“His girlfriend, Bre, will have to endure the loss of Alex while having witnessed the man she would’ve married die in her arms due to such a tragic and traumatizing way that no one should have to endure. And Emmitt has lost out (on) the best father figure he had,” she stated.