San Diego

Toddler, Struck by Car in Escondido Alley, Succumbs to Injuries: PD

A toddler has succumbed to her injuries after a driver parking her car struck the young girl, Escondido police said. 

The incident happened at approximately 12:42 p.m. Tuesday in an alley north of 4th Avenue and Orange Street. The location is just east of Interstate 15 and south of State Route 78, a few blocks away from the Civic Center Plaza Shopping Center and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. 

The one year and eight month old girl and her 10-year-old sister were playing in the alley at the time, the family told NBC 7. 

A 33-year-old female Escondido resident was driving west in the alley between 3rd and 4th Avenue from Orange Street at the time of the crash, police said, according to witness statements and physical evidence 

She began to park her car when she noticed a child - a 10-year-old girl - on the right side of the roadway. Police say the 10-year-old was trying to get the attention of the driver, to let her know there was another child nearby. 

At the same time, the toddler ran across the alley to the driver's left, where the crash occurred, police said. 

"I don't know if she did or not see my little sister, but she hit her with the car," said 10-year-old Karina Chavez, the victim's sister. "I think she was freaking out because she just a little child, I can tell that she was scared."

The toddler suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Palomar Medical Center. The 10-year-old was not injured. 

Alcohol or drugs are not a factor in the collision. 

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the department's Anonymous Tip Line at 760-743-TIPS (8477).

No other information was available.

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