NOW: 'All you want to do is talk about them': River Hills family honors memory of 8-year-old killed in freak accident

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RIVER HILLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After an accident in River Hills claimed a young boy's life far too soon, his family is doing all they can to keep his legacy alive.

Nikolai James Hanson was born June 12, 2016. The youngest of five kids, the first for Natalie and her husband, Justin, together.

Nikolai Hanson Hanson family

 He's just a spunky kid. A super sweet kid. Heart of gold,  said Natalie.

 You're not supposed to say this, but he was my favorite,  said Gianna Buelow, Nikolai's sister.

Nikolai's mom and sister love to talk about him, but it's the first time they've done so publicly.

 Whenever I'm sad, whenever I'm having a bad day, I'm just like, 'ask me about him,'  said Gianna.

Natalie and Gianna Hanson CBS 58

Nikolai loved soccer and Lionel Messi. He knew how to celebrate like him, too. He played baseball and snowboarded, rode a bike super early and hunted zombies often. He liked to sing and dance to Benson Boone. He'd wrestle with his brothers and be the first to hug his sister.

 There would be moments that I was struggling and no one else would see it and he would come to my room and say,  Do you need a hug?'  Gianna said.

 From right away was a little caretaker and had no fear and was super brave,  said Natalie.

Nov. 21, 2024, it was a cold, snow, and nasty morning. The family car, a big SUV, drove down the long, winding driveway to drop Nikolai and his brother off for the school bus. At the end of the driveway, both boys got out. But for some reason, maybe to playfully brush off the snow-covered SUV, Nikolai went around the front.

Nikolai Hanson Hanson family

No one saw him there. The SUV pulled forward, knocked him to the ground and ran him over.

Nikolai was rushed to Children's Wisconsin but died on the way.

 They tell us in this little room that he didn't make it. And just my whole world crashed down,  Natalie said.

 My dad said the wo

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