11/13/2009 9:07:00 PM Hit-and-run leads to arrest of 14-year-old girl
By LISA IRISH
Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a 14-year-old girl who police say lost control of a car this past Friday and hit a woman walking her dog on Swinging Bridge Lane in Cornville.
Deputies arrested the girl at her home Tuesday and booked her into the Prescott Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated assault, endangerment, criminal damage, reckless driving and aggressive driving, said Dwight D'Evelyn, media and crime prevention coordinator for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
The Cornville teenager told deputies she took a 2001 silver Toyota sedan from her home without her mother's knowledge, lost control of the car, and struck the woman who was walking her dog, according to reports.
Flagstaff Medical Center treated the 62-year-old woman injured for numerous broken bones and fractures. The woman will enter a rehabilitation center in Prescott Valley in the next few days, D'Evelyn said.
The woman's dog ran away after the car hit it. Family members later found the dog. A local veterinarian treated the dog for minor injuries, deputies said.
Deputies said excessive speed was likely a factor in the accident, D'Evelyn said.
Several neighbors in the area told deputies they have seen the girl driving alone on numerous occasions and speeding on neighborhood streets, D'Evelyn said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
In regards to the above,
the speeding problem has been reported to law enforcement and to ADOT
with a suggestion that a speed bump and or stop sign in that area should be considered. Law enforcement's response is that they have to catch the person in the act. They did; however, place a speed warning devise for a week or so. This is obviously not a problem with the neighbors, but the parent's lack of supervision and consideration of their neighbors.
Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Really? Since when did the neighborhood watch make sure a woman, or in this case teenager, had the proper credentials to operate a vehicle? It is unfair to accuse the neighbors of taking a blind eye. Yes, the child is responsible, however to say this accident could have been avoided by snooping is an entirely different issue.
Posted: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Article comment by:
D.L.
sounds to me like the neighbors should have saids something to the mother about this girl driving the car alone at her age and if the mother didnt do anything then tehy should have turned it in to the authorities at that point then maybe this poor 62 year old woman wouldnt be going through the horrible pain she is going to have to endure to recover from her injuries......shame on the neighbors for not doing something sooner....
Posted: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Article comment by:
Lived through it
That child needs some extra attention. It is obvious that she is associating with older individuals, because other 14 year olds generally are more "earthbound". She's a challenge, no doubt, but can be controlled, with the right approach.
We "inherited" a child like that, 12 years old, full Goth make-up, suicidal (divorce benefit...), but we made ourselves easily available and attentive, diverted her attention and challenged her mind, and provided a spiritual model in her life. She still had a wild spirit about her, but she also had stability in her life, for a change, and wasn't left alone for hours and hours at a time. Prayer covers all aspects of raising children; parenting is not easy. If she can't wait to get the heck out of the house, prepare her to handle her independence: teach her about work, paying bills, being healthy and responsible, and all things adult. She will eventually discover whether or not she's ready to handle it all. Now is one of those moments...Good Luck.
Posted: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Article comment by:
a neighbor from Prescott
Several neighbors have seen this 14 year old driving and speeding on the neighborhood streets BEFORE? Why was nothing done THEN? Just maybe the accident could've been prevented! but now a 62 year old woman will have to spend months in rehab. Oh and where were her parents on these numerous occasions?
