11-Year-Old Girl Killed In Lawrence Crash Identified
LAWRENCE (CBS) – The driver charged in a tragic crash that killed a young girl was ordered held without bail during an arraignment from his hospital bed Monday afternoon.
Selvin Manuel Lima, 23, of Lawrence is facing several charges, including manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide in Saturday's crash.
The Essex District Attorney's Office said police pulled Lima over around 5:30 p.m. for speeding and driving erratically, but when the officer walked up to the car, they say Lima sped off. The officer didn't go after him and moments later Lima's Infiniti G37 slammed head on into a Honda Civic with five people inside. One of them, an 11-year-old girl, died. The other four were seriously hurt and rushed to hospitals in Boston.
"The officer responded to the motor vehicle accident he described it as horrific. He couldn't even begin to figure out who he could help first. He immediately requested four to five ambulances," said a prosecutor during the hospital room arraignment.
The 11-year-old was identified Monday as Taysha Silva of Peabody. The district attorney said her 8-year-old sister, her 15-year-old cousin, her 29-year-old mother and her mother's 27-year-old boyfriend are all still in the hospital. Their names have not been made public.
Taysha's father, Roberto Silva, is drawing strength from love and support. "I'm showing no weakness because I'm pretty sure that's what she wanted me to do," Silva said at a vigil Monday night. "But I'm hurt. It's killing me inside. I cried for the past two days I have legit like no tears coming out you know?"
Lima was the only person in his car. He was airlifted to Brigham and Women's Hospital on a medical rescue helicopter with serious injuries.
Taysha's dad remembers a daughter who loved music, cars and motorcycles. Despite his pain he says he's not angry at the driver
"I'm not mad at him, I'm really not. He's a human being at the end of the day just like I am. We all make mistakes and stuff like that," Silva said. "He should have just stopped and got it over and done with you know?"
No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
A small, makeshift shrine of candles, flowers and stuffed animals has been put together at the crash site in honor of the girl.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the victim's age, based on information provided by the Essex County District Attorney's office.
