Girl Hit By Van After Marlins Game Remains In Critical Condition
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A 10-year old girl is struggling to survive after she and several family members were run down by a driver of a mini-van after Friday's Miami Marlins game.
The family was walking on the sidewalk on NW 7th Street between NW 17th and NW 18th Avenues around 7:30 p.m. when 67-year old Raul Herberto Ortega Arias, who was driving a red Dodge Caravan, suddenly veered off the road and slammed into them. Ortega, three children and their grandmother, were taken to the Ryder Trauma Center. Two of the children, a 14-year old boy and a 13-year old girl died, as did their grandmother and Arias.
"It appears that the gentleman who was driving, who has since passed away, was suffering from some sort of medical ailment," said Miami police spokeswoman Kenia Reyes. "We don't know exactly if that was the cause of, the reason why he died."
Sunday, the surviving girl was listed in extremely critical condition.
A man who was with the grandmother and children but was not hit was also taken to the hospital after he was overcome by emotion.
"The father was hysterical when all he would scream was my son, my son, and they took his son right away and I guess the other two people were left on the sidewalk," said Ivislissette Campos.
Leonel Lazo said the mini-van narrowly missed him too.
"I see this van like speeding like 60, 70 miles per hour," said Lazo. "When I jumped out of the way, I was like right there in between them. They flew from here and hit the wall."
Lazo said seeing the injured children broke his heart.
"I see the little girl on the floor screaming. I have a daughter as well. I couldn't, I just couldn't do anything because her knee was twisted, I couldn't do anything," said Lazo.
The family was visiting from Georgia and had just left the Marlins game when they were hit.
