Car Strikes 2 in Crosswalk; Girl, 6, Dies, Mother Hurt

ORANGE —  A 6-year-old Fullerton girl was killed and her mother critically injured Thursday when they were struck by a car whose driver later told police that the morning sun had blinded him.

Authorities identified the girl as Priscila Marquez. Her mother, Maria DeAvila, was listed in stable condition, reportedly with a fractured skull and pelvis, in the intensive care unit at UCI Medical Center in Orange Thursday night.

Placentia Traffic Sgt. Jay Fricke said the driver, a 22-year-old Brea man, was not cited. Fricke said the investigation was continuing.

The incident occurred at 7:31 a.m. as DeAvila and her daughter were crossing Crowder Avenue at Melrose Avenue in Placentia. Fricke said the two were “legally” 20 to 25 feet into the crosswalk when they were struck by a gold 1971 Chevrolet Impala.

The driver reportedly said he had been traveling east on Crowder when he stopped at the intersection for a stop sign, then continued through. Fricke said the driver told police that he stopped the car when he felt a thump and saw that a woman had been thrown against the hood of his car. The officer said Priscila was dragged a short distance under the car.

The car had been traveling about 15 to 20 m.p.h., Fricke said.

“It didn’t look good out there,” Fricke said about the scene. “Our paramedics were working on the young girl feverishly. There was a lot of blood. To see a kid like that, it really tears at you.”

Fricke said the child suffered massive internal injuries.

DeAvila was airlifted from the scene to UCI Medical Center.

Friends and relatives were keeping a vigil by her bedside Thursday night. A family member said DeAvila was told of her daughter’s death Thursday night. DeAvila is separated from her husband, the relative said.

Henry Sanchez, DeAvila’s supervisor at the Brea bingo supply store where she works, said she apparently had been taking her child to a doctor’s appointment. Sanchez said DeAvila has worked for him for two years.

Sanchez said he was told of the accident Thursday afternoon and that he called his employees together to give them the news. He said the employees were all very close friends and were allowed to leave early. Many went to the hospital, he said, to wait for word about DeAvila.