The family of Christina "Tina" Bird, 11, announced that the girl has died after being on life support for four days following an ATV-hit-and-run crash on Saturday evening. She was riding the ATV with her best friend, Jacob Martinez, 12, who was declared dead at the scene at a campground in Apple Valley while their families were celebrating the Fourth of July weekend.
The two friends were on a holiday weekend campout and took off for an ATV ride at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 2. However, the two children never returned. They were hit by a UTV. Jacob, who was driving, died instantly, while Christina suffered critical injuries. The UTV driver fled.
Christina was transported to the hospital for multiple broken bones and a severed spinal cord.
Severe injuries
According to Daisy Montano, Jacob's aunt, the two kids were near their families' campsite when they rode the ATV. As per Daily Mail, the first person that tried to perform CPR on her nephew tried to roll him around, but the only part that turned face up was the half part of his body because he was so broken. The responder knew immediately that Jacob was dead.
The Twitter post of the family described the severe injuries that the children sustained in the crash. It indicated that Jacob's helmet was ejected, and he died instantly. Christina suffered two broken arms, two broken legs, and injuries to her pelvis and spinal cord.
Family members hoped that the 11-year-old Christina would eventually recover despite the brutal injuries. However, doctors delivered the devastating news four days later: Chrisina was already braindead. The family expressed their final farewell to Christina since. The mother, Felicia Nunez, said their daughter was taken too soon by the senseless act of a human being.
The doctors declared Christina brain dead on Wednesday, but she remained on life support at Loma Linda Children's Hospital until it was taken off, per CBS News.
Read Also : Human Trafficking Cops Find 2 Missing Teenagers After Raising Amber Alert from a 'Help' Message on Snapchat
Why flee?
The driver of the UTV fled, the family said. As per witnesses, the driver who hit the children did not stop after the crash, but they seemed aware of the accident because they turned off the light and fled the scene quickly. Another witness told the authorities they saw "strange" off-roaders in a damaged yellow Can-Am UTV go to their campsite. They overheard them saying, "they need to get out of here."
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. They are now searching for a bright orange 2021 RZR Turbo or Turbo S4 ATV, which authorities suspect was used by the driver.
As per Sacramento Bee, Montana, Jacob's aunt, asked the missing driver, "Why flee?," adding that they left two children to die. His nephew, she added, was mangled and trampled to death.
The families of both children are asking anyone with information to call the California Highway Patrol in Victorville at 760-241-1186. A GoFundMe page was created to help Jacob's and Christina's bereaved families. Christina's family has raised around $20,000, While Jacob's family has raised about $15,000.
