Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested 17-year-old Lachevis Finnie on Monday. Investigators say the vehicle he was driving matched the car involved in the crash. Court records indicate Finnie did not have a driver’s license. He was expected to appear before a judge Tuesday.

As neighbors gathered at a growing memorial, parents said the crash highlighted the risks children face near a busy road. One parent said a vehicle nearly hit her seven-year-old shortly after he got off his bus, just two days before Mariana’s death. She called for an adult to get off the bus and help children cross and control traffic.

Residents also described drivers speeding and failing to stop properly near the bus stop. Evelyn Vazquez, who translated for her mother, Rosa Perez, said a camera at their home captured Friday’s crash. The family said they had seen repeated close calls in the area.

Vazquez said residents want lasting changes, suggesting a traffic light, a marked crossing or more surveillance. Another parent said she hoped the driver would be found, saying, “The car can’t hide but for so long.”

The families’ concerns raise questions about how students are protected when their bus routes require them to cross busy streets. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had not responded to questions about its safety protocols as of Monday evening.