A 5-year-old girl is in serious condition after being hit by a car on Saturday evening in north Harris County, officials said.
The crash happened at 1499 Gears Road near Trickey Road, HCSO said.
@HCSO_VCD units are investigating a major crash at 1499 Gears Rd & Trickey. A 5-yr-old toddler was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. The female toddler has been transported in serious condition. The striking vehicle has been located. All eastbound lanes of
1/2 pic.twitter.com/22kRluaQS5
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 4, 2023
The car involved in the crash did flee the scene. Shortly after, the vehicle was found, but according to police, there was no one inside.
All eastbound lanes were shut down near Trickey as deputies investigated the scene.
This is the second time a child has been hit by a car in the Harris County area in the past three days.
Reporters spoke with the mother of an 11-year-old, identified as Aella Garcia, who died after being hit by a car on South Gessner on June 1. The crash happened about 600 feet from her family’s condominium.
“She just always thought about people,” Aella’s aunt, Daniele Jacomo, said. “Just pure angel at heart.”
An initial report from Houston police stated that after 9 a.m. Aella was hit by one car that had crossed the intersection with a green light.
In a press release, a public information officer said “it is believed the child fell and was then struck by the vehicle.”
However, Aella’s father was shown surveillance video from a nearby business. Reporters were told that the video showed Aella falling because she was initially hit by a different car. He said a second car ran her over as she tried to get back up.
“She was already suffering,” Jacomo said.
Reporters asked Houston police if there was any information on the first car and if the 11-year-old had the right of way. HPD said they would be looking into it.
“That just feels like to me there’s a negligence there that’s being cultivated and allowed, and it needs to change,” Jacomo said.
In 2021 more than 100 pedestrians were killed on Houston’s streets.
On Saturday morning, city staff repainted the crosswalk where the 11-year-old was killed.
Aella’s family is currently raising money to bring her back to Bakersfield, California. They moved to Houston from the city just a few months before the accident.
“I feel like everybody owes Aella. At least I want to bring her home.” Aella’s father said.
