‘We are broken;’ Family of girl who lost leg after being dragged by car wants justice

DAYTON — A family of 9-year-old Ashley Escalante, who was hit by a car and dragged a half a mile, is speaking out.

As reported on News Center 7 at 11, the girl’s mother, Mayra Martinez, said a quick trip to the Family Dollar to grab milk, turned into one of the worst nights of her life.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘Tragic;’ Shocking video captures car hit family in crosswalk, drag girl on bike half a mile

Martinez wants people to know who her daughter is.

“She loves serving God, she sings, she dances and that’s what makes me most sad because I know she will be sad when she sees she can’t use her foot,” Martinez said.

Escalante’s father, Carlos Escalante, was holding one of his 18-month-old twin babies when the SUV drove into his family.

“He gets my daughter and I say ‘hey stop, you have my daughter’ and he watched me,” Carlos said.

Ashley got stuck in the front tire.

“He dragged her half a mile, and I followed him,” Carlos said.

Ashley was riding her bike alongside her best friend Alison, something they typically did together.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 9-year-old girl hit by SUV, dragged half mile down road; Man arrested

“I was scared,” Alison said.

Carlos, Martinez, and their twin babies walked away with minor injuries.

Jackeline Mavarrete came from Tennessee to the hospital and is just one of the at least 15 family members who have refused to leave Ashley’s side.

“What kind of human does that honestly to a kid, to a family, I just don’t understand,” Mavarrete said.

The driver accused of hitting Ashley, Jeffrey Atkinson, was arrested for OVI, not stopping after a crash, and aggravated vehicular assault.

The family said that no punishment he faces would be enough for the irreversible damage caused to their daughter.

We will continue to follow this story.

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