OGDEN, Utah – A 7-year-old girl remained hospitalized Wednesday with injuries she suffered Monday when she was hit by a truck.
The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. Monday in a residential neighborhood near 1600 North and 1700 West. The girl was crossing the street at a T-intersection and had almost reached the other side when a pickup truck driven by a 35-year-old man hit her, causing critical injuries, said Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman.
Police were looking at both distracted driving and impairment as possible factors in the crash, Lyman said, including whether the driver was looking at his cellphone. Additionally, detectives were waiting for the test results on blood taken from the driver to determine whether alcohol or drugs may have also been a factor, Lyman said,
There were also allegations made by other witnesses that the driver initially left the scene after hitting the girl but returned a short time later. Lyman said that was also being investigated by detectives.
The driver was not arrested Monday, but Lyman said a case will be forwarded to the Davis County Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for potential charges.
The girl was hit close to her house and her mother was one of the first on scene to help her, the lieutenant said.
According to a GoFundMe page, the girl, Allison, was walking her dog along with her sister when she was hit. The organizer of the fundraising page claims the driver was reaching for his phone when he hit Allison.
Her injuries are “extensive,” according to the GoFundMe page, and she has had at least two surgeries at Primary Children’s Hospital since Monday, one to repair a broken femur.
“Her liver is badly damaged and they are working to keep her kidneys going. It’s a uphill battle for Alison. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers,” the site states.
The fundraiser is to help Alison and her mother, who is single and works full time, pay for medical bills.