Pings Recovery and medical Campaign
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A first grader was seriously hurt when struck by a truck in a hit-and-run accident in the Riverside area on her way home from school Friday, Feb. 26, according to the California Highway Patrol.
In a news release, the CHP said the girl crossed Iowa Avenue near Villa Street in an unincorporated area close to the city limit when a truck driver did not yield and hit her with the front end of the vehicle.
The accident occurred at 2:28 p.m. Friday and the truck was headed north at about 45 mph, the CHP stated.
The child suffered major injuries, the CHP said, and was rushed to Loma Linda University Medical Center.
The victim is DeAsha Butts of Highgrove, whose 7th birthday is Tuesday, March 1, according to cousin Kim Thompson of Riverside. The CHP said she tried to cross Iowa to get from the east sidewalk to the west sidewalk when the accident occurred.
The vehicle was described as a red Chevrolet 2500 or 3500 utility truck, of a model year between 1999 and 2009, with four doors, storage compartments built into the quarter panels and a utility rack over the bed. The CHP said it had a chrome front bumper and wheel covers.
The truck's driver failed to remain at the scene, as required by law, the CHP said.
Thompson said she understood from witnesses that two men got out, jumped back in and drove off. She termed them cowards.
"You left a child laying on the asphalt with blood gushing out of her head, out of her mouth, out of her ears," Thompson said.
She said DeAsha suffered bleeding from the brain, fluid in her stomach, a bruised lung, a fractured pelvis, leg fractures and multiple scrapes. She said the girl's left ear had to be reattached.We talked to her today and what she said was she remembered seeing the headlights," Thompson said, adding that the truck dragged her.
Her injuries might have been worse, Thompson said, had the child not carried a backpack.
"It just breaks your heart," Thompson said. "She is in such great pain and you can't take it away."
But Thompson said the girl who goes by the nickname "Ping Ping" and dreams of being a minister remains strong.
"She is an amazing, amazing child," Thompson said. "Even in the hospital she was asking for someone to pray for and for gospel music. She was going in and out of consciousness. ... She has a long road to recovery."
The CHP is asking for the public's help in tracking down the driver.
He is described as a white man in his 40s or 50s, with a gray goatee, and as a "stocky construction worker type" who likely works or resides in the area.
Anyone with information is urged to phone the Riverside CHP or the Inland Division Investigation Service Unit .
I,m Kim Thompson and I,m from Riverside ,Ca my relationship to Ping Ping is her and cousin and guardian. This money will be used to pay for medical bills ,home care , when she gets out of the hospital, to help pay bills when we are away from work caring and staying at the hospital with ping ,gas to get back and forth to appointments , for baby sitting for the other sibling food,light ect . While away from work and any other expenses that may come up and it was promised to ping ping that is she can pull everything with in her we could take her to Disneyland this is some thing she has always wanted to do.... When she leaves the hospital she will be sent to a rehabilitation facilty to help her recovery and learn to walk again at that time we will find out if this will be a permanent damange done .Thank you for your support Kim Thompson
In a news release, the CHP said the girl crossed Iowa Avenue near Villa Street in an unincorporated area close to the city limit when a truck driver did not yield and hit her with the front end of the vehicle.
The accident occurred at 2:28 p.m. Friday and the truck was headed north at about 45 mph, the CHP stated.
The child suffered major injuries, the CHP said, and was rushed to Loma Linda University Medical Center.
The victim is DeAsha Butts of Highgrove, whose 7th birthday is Tuesday, March 1, according to cousin Kim Thompson of Riverside. The CHP said she tried to cross Iowa to get from the east sidewalk to the west sidewalk when the accident occurred.
The vehicle was described as a red Chevrolet 2500 or 3500 utility truck, of a model year between 1999 and 2009, with four doors, storage compartments built into the quarter panels and a utility rack over the bed. The CHP said it had a chrome front bumper and wheel covers.
The truck's driver failed to remain at the scene, as required by law, the CHP said.
Thompson said she understood from witnesses that two men got out, jumped back in and drove off. She termed them cowards.
"You left a child laying on the asphalt with blood gushing out of her head, out of her mouth, out of her ears," Thompson said.
She said DeAsha suffered bleeding from the brain, fluid in her stomach, a bruised lung, a fractured pelvis, leg fractures and multiple scrapes. She said the girl's left ear had to be reattached.We talked to her today and what she said was she remembered seeing the headlights," Thompson said, adding that the truck dragged her.
Her injuries might have been worse, Thompson said, had the child not carried a backpack.
"It just breaks your heart," Thompson said. "She is in such great pain and you can't take it away."
But Thompson said the girl who goes by the nickname "Ping Ping" and dreams of being a minister remains strong.
"She is an amazing, amazing child," Thompson said. "Even in the hospital she was asking for someone to pray for and for gospel music. She was going in and out of consciousness. ... She has a long road to recovery."
The CHP is asking for the public's help in tracking down the driver.
He is described as a white man in his 40s or 50s, with a gray goatee, and as a "stocky construction worker type" who likely works or resides in the area.
Anyone with information is urged to phone the Riverside CHP or the Inland Division Investigation Service Unit .
I,m Kim Thompson and I,m from Riverside ,Ca my relationship to Ping Ping is her and cousin and guardian. This money will be used to pay for medical bills ,home care , when she gets out of the hospital, to help pay bills when we are away from work caring and staying at the hospital with ping ,gas to get back and forth to appointments , for baby sitting for the other sibling food,light ect . While away from work and any other expenses that may come up and it was promised to ping ping that is she can pull everything with in her we could take her to Disneyland this is some thing she has always wanted to do.... When she leaves the hospital she will be sent to a rehabilitation facilty to help her recovery and learn to walk again at that time we will find out if this will be a permanent damange done .Thank you for your support Kim Thompson
Organizer
Kiki Thompsn
Organizer
Riverside, CA