MINNEAPOLIS — A 3-year-old girl is recovering after being struck by a vehicle while walking with her family Sunday afternoon in northeast Minneapolis.
The girl, Elise, is expected to survive but her mother says she suffered a broken tibia, bruises to her lungs, lacerations to her face and bleeding in her liver.
"Recovery will be hard but she is alive and doing well," Elise's mother, Melody Strong, posted on Facebook. "We could have very well lost our daughter and I am so grateful and blessed that she will eventually walk away from this."
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the child was struck at around 12:45 p.m. Sunday near Third Street Northeast and Northeast Lowry Avenue. Elise was transported by ambulance to HCMC, where she continues to recover.
"I thought she was going to die, to see a 3-year-old get run over by a car like that. It's devastating," Strong said.
Strong says one of the hardest parts is that her other daughter and husband witnessed the whole incident with her.
"I keep on getting flashes of it popping up in my head," Strong said.
Her family is prepared for a long road to recovery, adding they're grateful she's alive and getting excellent care.
Police said the vehicle left the area after striking the child while exiting an alley. On Monday, officials said they arrested a man in connection to the hit-and-run. Police say they've placed requests to charge the 21-year-old from Minneapolis.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with medical expenses.