Prosecutors in suburban Atlanta announced misdemeanor charges against a man who ran over and killed a 4-year-old girl after her family protested when police said the felony charge was unwarranted.
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin Gatson told reporters: “We met with the family this morning, and we told them, of course, we’re going to investigate.” “But from what we’ve seen now, we’re going to press charges in this matter.”
Abigail Hernandez was struck and killed on March 10 in a parking lot outside the Mall of Georgia near Buford.
Uber driver dropping off family in Houston hits 1-year-old child and dies
Hernandez was one of three people who were struck by a Chevrolet Silverado that turned right as the family was crossing the road. Abby’s father and sister were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Austin-Gaston did not say what charges he would file against the 18-year-old driver. She made the announcement after Gwinnett County police announced Monday that charges against her were not merited. Police say they can only enforce serious traffic violations such as reckless driving and drunk driving on private property. The driver was cooperating with police and was not charged with these violations.
Downtown Atlanta, Georgia skyline. (Reuters)
“Sometimes things like this happen,” Austin Gaston said. “We will review the case again and decide whether to file charges based on the results.”
Hernandez’s family has called for charges and held a protest before meeting with Austin-Gaston on Tuesday.
“She loved to dance. She loved to go to the park. She was a bit of a sassy Abby,” her mother, Marina Hernandez, told WANF-TV. “I feel like she’s still here. I feel like I might see her tomorrow. I don’t know if that’s a good thing, but she just wants to hold her.”
Lauren Paz, Marina Hernandez’s sister-in-law, said criminal charges are needed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“They may not have wanted to lock him up and ruin his life, but we weren’t going to bury her in the ground,” she said.
