Father Leaves Injured Kids After Crash
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Police in Dallas are searching for a father who crashed his SUV and then ran from the scene, leaving behind three of his injured children. The incident happened just after 11:00 p.m. Thursday in the 4400 block of Lawnview Avenue.
Police say four children, a 9-year-old boy, 6-year-old boy, 5-year-old girl and 11-month-old baby boy, were in the Ford Expedition with their father when he slammed into a telephone pole.
After the crash, officials spoke with the 9-year-old boy, who told them his father had been drinking heavily before the accident.
Authorities say as the SUV spun out of control the force caused the 5-year-old girl, who was seated in a safety seat but not seat belted, to be ejected through the rear window. Neighbors heard a loud crash and rushed outside to see what happened. They found something bloody in the street and initially thought it was a dog or animal. As the witnesses moved closer, they realized it was a child.
"The little girl, she was laying on the ground. She was crying," explained witness Kaylia Rose. "So, we went and got her some cover. She couldn't speak English, so it was like a Mexican lady out here helping her translate and stuff like that."
According to police, immediately after the crash the father drove from the scene, leaving the little girl in the street. "She was still just shaking and crying," said witness Stephanie Clemons, who tried to comfort the girl at the scene. "When everybody asked her questions, she wouldn't have nothing to say. She was just shaking and crying."
The man then drove to a nearby park where he left two of his children inside the SUV, grabbed the 11-month-old, and fled on foot.
The father then ran to his mother-in-law's house, who lived nearby on Woodard Street. Once there he allegedly told the woman that he'd had an accident, handed her the baby boy and, once again, left on foot.
Olgalivia Salazar is the great aunt of the children, and is outraged the father simply left his daughter behind. "I mean I know a lot of people hit dogs and just keep going. A lot of people who have a heart will stop and see if the dog's okay. So I would think a dad would do the same thing, stop and say, hey where's my kids. I don't care what happens to me. I want to make sure my kids are okay."
Friday night the man was still on the run. Police are not releasing the man's name because they don't want him to skip town.
All of the injured children were taken to Children's Medical Center in Dallas. The 5- and 6-year-olds were both hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, with head injuries. The 6-year-old underwent surgery and is listed as stable. The 5-year-old had some brain swelling, but family members say the swelling has gone down.
The mother of the children remains at the hospital with her children. The 11-month-old and 9-year old were both checked out, but neither were seriously injured.
Despite not being in custody, detectives are filing two charges of Injury to a Child and one charge of Child Abandonment against the father. Family members say the father has had a number of run-ins with police, and had previously been deported to Mexico.
