MESA — A 4-year-old is in critical condition after a hit-and-run crash in Mesa Sunday afternoon.
Officials say the girl and one of her parents were walking near Mesa Drive and Main Street when a vehicle struck the child.
Bea Freeman and some of her loved ones were at the Mesa Temple Visitor’s Center when the incident happened.
The family tells ABC15 they were heading back to their car across the street when the four-year-old was hit.
“She’s a very strong spirit and that frankly gives us more hope,” said Bea’s uncle Christopher Stapley.
He said his niece has been in and out of intensive surgery Monday, but she’s now stable.
“They found a slight brain bleed,” said Stapley. “Damage, a lot of damage to her face.”
He said doctors also don’t know the state of one of her eyes.
Stapley said his sister, Bea’s mom, hasn’t talked much about the moments just before the crash.
“It’s still incredibly raw and a traumatic thing to talk about,” said Stapley.
He said the group, including mom, was about halfway through the crosswalk. Mesa police tell ABC15 that’s when the little girl ran into one of the lanes and a driver hit Bea.
“It’s just really just day to day at this point to make sure that she stays stable,” said Stapley.
Police said they are looking for the gray or silver four-door car that hit Bea.
Officers said the driver slowed near the scene but ended up leaving.
“Hopefully, something will come forward,” said Stapley. “A video or witness to help us figure out what happened.”
Stapley told ABC15 his sister is a member of the Mesa Temple congregation, and they know security is working with police.
ABC15 did try to reach out to the Temple’s security team, and we are waiting to hear back.
As for the driver, Freeman’s uncle urges them to come forward.
“At end of the day we're just trying to hope that nobody else has something like this happened again and make this a powerful learning experience,” said Stapley.
Police tell ABC15 they are also looking at any surveillance footage in the area to determine the vehicle involved.
Freeman will need extensive medical care, and the family has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.
