DAYTON — A 9-year-old who was hit and dragged by a drunk driver is speaking exclusively to News Center 7 after being released from the hospital.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 6, in July, a family’s quick trip for milk turned into one of the worst nights of their lives.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Man covered in blood leads police to find 2 bodies in Dayton home
- Baby left at local fire station in baby box
- Winner of $138 million lottery ticket sold at Walmart running out of time to claim prize
A Hummer caught Escalante on her bicycle and dragged her down the street for about a half mile near the intersection of Keowee Street and Fifth Street before she became dislodged from the SUV.
Her injuries were so bad, they had to amputate part of her leg.
Since then, Escalante has not been back at school.
“But they did bring me a computer and a lot of books so I could keep learning,” she said.
But it’s not the same as being at school.
“I like to go to the gym and play a game called shark and minnows,” Escalante said.
Her mom Mayra Martinez stays home with her.
“I tell Ashley everyday, ‘you are not alone, you can start walking again’ and it’s because a lot of people help us,” Martinez said.
Martinez and Escalante spend a lot of their days at the hospital.
Most recently for an emergency visit after Escalante broke a bone in her leg that was amputated.
“It’s been very hard to recover, but I’m very grateful for the therapists that have been helping me,” Escalante said.
Escalante had plans to get a prosthetic leg around Christmas.
Now that she’ll be in a cast for four to six weeks she is not sure that will happen.
The driver accused of hitting her, Jeffrey Atkinson, was arrested for OVI, not stopping after a crash, and aggravated vehicular assault.
In body camera footage, Atkinson admitted to officers he was drunk.
“I just want to say to him that I hope the lord forgives him for what he has done to me,” Escalante said.
We will continue to follow this story.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
