3 Girls Killed, 1 In Critical Condition Following Lucerne Valley Hit-And-Run
LUCERNE VALLEY (CBSLA) — Three young girls were killed and another was left in critical condition following a hit-and-run collision Saturday night in Lucerne Valley.
Around 10:19 p.m., the four girls, two of whom were in wheelchairs, were struck by a driver in a white 2002 Chevrolet Silverado on Camp Rock Road, north of Rabbit Springs Road.
The driver and passenger were traveling northbound on Camp Rock Road, at an unknown speed when they approached the four girls from behind.
Following the collision, the driver and passenger exited the truck and fled on foot. It was not immediately known what led up to the crash.
Three of the girls suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased on the scene by San Bernardino County Fire Department personnel.
They were later identified as 11-year-old Willow Sanchez, 12-year-old Daytona Bronas, and 13-year-old Sandra Mizer. The fourth girl, 14-year-old Natalie Coe, remains in critical condition.
The fourth girl, identified as 14-year-old Natalie Coe, suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment.
"I don't know why death happens, but it happens," Lori Napier, Willow's mother, said.
On Tuesday, she returned to the scene of the crash where her daughter was killed.
"Anyone out there that has teenagers, don't let them go out at night," she said. "Keep your teenagers in no matter how mad they are at you, because if we would've kept our teenagers in, we'd still have them."
It was not immediately clear if drugs or alcohol were a factor in this crash.
All four girls either went to or were currently enrolled at Lucerne Valley Unified School District Schools.
"When you have something like this happen, and people run away from little girls dying in the middle of the road on a night, it's not right," LVUSD Superintendent Peter Livingston said. "Absolutely disgusts me that these people are out there, who I would not even call human beings, running around here."
Livingston said the school would offer additional counseling for students in need in the coming days as well as in the fall when the new school year starts.
Jessica Risler, LVUSD board vice president, has created a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral and medical costs for the families of the four girls.
The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the deadly crash. Anyone with information was asked to contact Officer L. McAllister at the Victorville CHP Area office at (760) 241-1186.
