An Iowa girl was killed in a hit-and-run crash on her walk home from school just days before her quinceañera.
Freshman Ema Cardenas, 14, was walking home from Des Moines East High School on Thursday when an SUV slammed into her, then fled from the scene and left the teen mortally wounded in the roadway.
Driver Terra Jean Flipping, 38, was arrested Friday after cops found the SUV less than a mile from the crash. Flipping allegedly had pulled over, gotten out and observed the carnage before driving away.
Cardenas had been set to celebrate her rite-of-passage 15th birthday celebration this month, where the teenager was going to wear a dress made by her mother. The girl will instead be buried in the dress.
“She was so excited. Emerald green and gold, which are her favorite colors,” grieving mom Anna Campos said while crying.
“Now I have to tell those family members that instead of giving invitations to her party, I have to give invitations to her funeral.”
The mother now just wants to speak with the women accused in the fatal crash.
“I want to forgive her,” Campos said. “I just want answers. Like, how can she… what was her state of mind leaving somebody just there on the side of the road?”
Police charged Terra Jean Flipping, 38, with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury or death after finding her car about a mile from where Ema was struck in the 1600 block of East University Avenue. Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek has said there “is no evidence to indicate that this was anything other than an accident,” but that police are still seeking witnesses.
More than 100 people came out to pay their respects and offer prayers for Ema and her family Sunday. An altar on the edge of the park was adorned with pictures, candles, balloons and flowers. One by one, people stepped up to offer their condolences.
While the crowd gathered, a few people began to sing “Amazing Grace” as others wept and held one another.
After the singing ended, Pastor Rex Deckard of Calvary Apostolic Church in Des Moines, where Ema was a member of the youth group, told the crowd that “the greatest expression of love you can show Ema is to love one another.”
Assisting Deckard with Spanish translation was Israel Gonzalez, who told those gathered that “one thing we can do to remember Ema is to not stop talking about her. Even if it hurts, keep talking about her.”
where are the manslaughter charges in this?????!!!!!!!