Modesto 10-Year-Old Recovering After Being Run Over
MODESTO (CBS13) - A 10-year-old Modesto girl may not be a hero, but her family says she's a miracle after surviving being hit by a car last month.
Flora Ortega was walking home from a taco truck on June 16 when was hit on Crows Landing Road.
Witnesses that night reported that Flora Ortega pushed her brother out of the way before being hit by a 1927 Model T, but she says he had already crossed the street when it hit her.
It's still quite a survival story after Flora sustained a fractured skull, ruptured spleen, four broken ribs, a broken arm and two broken ankles.
Flora says she was hit because she didn't see the vehicle coming, not because her brother Gilbert needed help.
"He was crossing the street and I was going behind him and then I was following him and I got hit by a car," she said.
Gilbert says he was almost to the other side of the street when he heard something.
"I went to see what car was roaring up and I seen the car hit my sister so then I turned around on the bike," he said. "All I seen was my sister rolling over on the street
Surveillance video shows Flora step into the street. What you can't see is Gilbert or the impact.
Flora was rushed to a children's hospital where she underwent a pair of surgeries and spent a week recovering.
The youngster's mom says it's a miracle she survived.
"I knew her head was busted open and I didn't know if her brain was going to be messed up or if she would walk again," Julie Jordan said.
Flora is expected to fully recover but for now can only use one hand.
The family has been overwhelmed by support.
"I got a Mickey Mouse coloring book," said Flora, along with a pile of other books and a puppy to help heal.
"Before I go to sleep I play w my puppy," she said.
But most off all, everyone is thankful Flora is home safe in time for fireworks.
"I'm feeling happy that I'm with my family on the Fourth of July," she said.
"It's fun knowing that she's still going to be home because anything could have happened," Gilbert said.
The family is encouraged by how fast Flora is healing and hopeful she'll recover in time for the first day of school in the fall.
