Girl Injured in SDG&E Truck Crash Released From Hospital

The 5-year-old girl, her mother, and a neighbor were struck by an SDG&E utility truck on Wednesday, according to police. The girl's mother died from her injuries.

A 5-year-old girl who was seriously injured on Wednesday when she was hit by an SDG&E utility truck, which also struck and killed her mother, was released from the hospital on Saturday, according to the girl's family.

Relatives of the girl, who they identified as Anahi Rodriguez, told NBC 7 they were happy to have her home after she spent days at Rady Children’s Hospital following the tragic car accident.

For Anahi and her family, the road to recovery will be a long one as they begin to deal with the loss of Anahi’s mother, Ana Herrera Rodriguez, who died from injuries she sustained in the car accident.

According to police, Rodriguez, Anahi, and their 4-year-old neighbor were hit as Rodriguez walked the girls to Balboa Elementary School at around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday.

As the trio approached Cottonwood Street, between Osborn and Earl Streets, an SDG&E utility truck plowed into them.

Rodriguez was pinned underneath the vehicle and later died from her injuries.

Anahi was transferred to Rady Children’s Hospital with serious injuries from the accident, including a fractured pelvis and liver damage. She remained hospitalized until around 3 p.m. Saturday, her family said.

Family said Anahi will spend the next six weeks in a wheelchair.

The 4-year-old girl injured in the accident was also hospitalized. She was released on Wednesday.

On Friday investigators announced that the driver of the SDG&E truck was distracted when he hit Rodriguez and the two girls.

As of Saturday, no charges had been filed against the driver. SDG&E officials said the accident is under investigation and they are cooperating with authorities.

On Saturday evening, family and friends gathered for another nightly memorial for Rodriguez. At the time, family members told NBC 7 that they had yet to tell Anahi that her mother had passed away.

“It's really hard for me and her dad. We really don't know how we are going to tell her,” said Julie Guitterez, Anahi’s cousin.

For now, family and friends said one of the most important things they can do is to remember Rodriguez and the sacrifice she made for her daughter and the 4-year-old neighbor.

A memorial for Rodriguez  has been planned for Tuesday at the California Burial Chapel in National City.

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