After spending 5 days at Tampa General hospital, a 3-year old girl is back home with family. Highlands County deputies continue to look for the driver who hit and critically injured Brianna Fuentes.
"God was watching out for her because she recovered so fast," Adalinda Ramos, Brianna's mother said. "They said when she was taken by helicopter to the hospital she might not live. We give thanks to God my daughter is here, at home, alive."
Brianna has bruised lungs, cuts and scratches all over her arms, hands, and face. She broke her right leg, but thankfully did not suffer any permanent brain trauma.
Brianna's sister, Ashley Fuentes Ramos, witnessed the hit and run. Now, the six year old can't shake the images of what she saw on a family walk Saturday night, when a car ran over her little sister.
"I was sad because I thought she got hurt, and she was bleeding everywhere," Fuentes Ramos said.
Ashley's sister, and three-year-old Brianna were walking alongside her parents on North Lake Avenue in Avon Park about 5:15 p.m. Saturday They live just a few blocks away and were headed to a nearby lake to swim. Ashley says in a split second, little Brianna darted out into the road, and her mom panicked.
"She thought she was right here, but she wasn't. She was crossing. Then they threw her and my mom started to cry, because they hit her," Fuentes Ramos said.
The family immediately rushed to Brianna's side as she lay in the street, then watched as the driver of a white Chevy Malibu kept on going. A picture of the suspect's vehicle was snapped on security cameras at the Jacaranda Hotel down the street.
"It's not fair what they did to her," Ramos said. "No words can begin to describe what this has been like. We need to share the picture and bring them to justice."
The vehicle deputies think was involved appears to be a late model Chevrolet Malibu, four doors, with a rear spoiler, tinted windows, and sunroof. If you recognize it, call the Highlands County Sheriff's Office or Crimestoppers at 800-226-8477.
