A nine-year-old girl from Ohio lost her leg after she was hit by a Hummer while on her bike and dragged down the road for nearly half of a mile.
Ashley Escalante, 9, was riding her bike through a crosswalk with her bestfriend while alongside her mother, father and twin siblings as they headed to Family Dollar to pick up some milk this past July, Law & Crime reported.
But their grocery run turned into a nightmare when a driver behind the wheel of an SUV turned as the family crossed the street at Wayne Avenue and Clover Street in Dayton.
Horrifying footage captured the moment the Hummer failed to stop as the family walked by – ultimately trapping Ashley in its front tire and driving away with her still under the wheel.
Carlos Escalante, Ashley’s father, was seen running after the car – which had sparks shooting out the side of it – while still holding one of his 18-month babies in his arms.
‘He gets my daughter and I say “hey stop, you have my daughter” and he watched me,’ Carlos told WHIO.
‘He dragged her half a mile and I followed him.’
Mayra Martinez, Ashley’s mother, among others, called 911 to say that her daughter became trapped in the wheels of the car and that she had no idea where she was.
Ashley Escalante, 9, is finally home from the hospital after she was hit by a Hummer in July and dragged a half a mile down the road – leading to an amputation of her leg
Terrifying security footage captured the moment the Hummer failed to stop as the family crossed a crosswalk while on their way to get milk from Family Dollar
The horrific footage showed the car – which had sparks shooting out its side – driving away with Ashley still attached as her father ran after her with one of his 18-month-old babies still in his arms
When authorities located Ashley, they noted that the ‘lower portion of her left leg, including her foot, was missing below the knee, and her right leg had significant injury as well’.
‘I remember seeing how – my leg bleeding a lot, and I remember a police that had red hair,’ Ashley told Fox 19 months after the terrifying incident.
Ashley was in and out of consciousness upon arriving at the hospital where she underwent two surgeries instantly – one of which led to her leg being amputated as doctors tirelessly worked to save the other.
‘What kind of human does that honestly to a kid, to a family, I just don’t understand,’ Jackeline Mavarette, one of at least 15 family members who traveled to Ohio to stay by Ashley’s side, told WHIO.
Ashley was finally allowed to go back home after spending months in medically induced comas and operating rooms in the hospital – although the injuries she endured will change the course of the rest of her life.
‘She loves serving God, she sings, she dances, and that’s what makes me most sad,’ Mayra told the outlet. ‘Because I know she will be sad when she sees she can’t use her foot.’
But despite the life-altering accident, nine-year-old Ashley remains grateful while remembering that fateful night.
Despite the rest of the family walking away with minor injuries, authorities noted how her ‘lower portion of her left leg, including her foot, was missing below the knee, and her right leg had significant injury as well’ after they located her
Mayra Martinez, Ashley’s mother, initially called 911 to report that her daughter had gotten caught inside the vehicle’s tires and that she had no idea where her daughter was
Carlos Escalante, Ashley’s father, noted how the family will never be the same following the nearly-fatal crash
She told Fox19 that she is thankful for the woman who ran into the street and moved her out of the road, as well as the dedicated staff at the hospital that helped her for months.
‘It’s been very hard to recover, but I’m very grateful for the therapists that have been helping me,’ Ashley said.
The driver of the car was identified as 55-year-old Jeffrey Atkinson, the owner of Cowboys Lodi Bike Stop Bar, who was back at his business after the nearly fatal hit-and-run.
Atkinson – who was wearing a shirt that read ‘Support Your Local Outlaws’ – walked out of the bar with his hands up after Daytona Police asked him if he was the owner of the Hummer parked in the lot, which he replied that it was.
But he began incriminating himself while making statements to officers about being ‘impaired’ and ‘drunk’.
‘You know what? F*** it, I’m drunk. I’ll admit it,’ Atkinson said. ‘I own a bar.’
When police attempted to preform a routine sobriety test, he admitted that he was ‘too drunk to pass,’ Law & Crime reported.
His BAC was said to be .34 – a vast difference from the .08 legal limit.
His charges include operating a vehicle while under the influence, vehicular assault, and child endangerment.
Atkinson’s ex-wife announced on Facebook she will be taking over the Cowboys Lodi Bike Stop.
‘This is Tanya posting, his ex-wife. I have not been part of the bar since before the divorce, however the liquor permit is still in my name,’ she posted.
‘I am in the position that it is necessary for me to retake ownership of the business… I truly hope that people will come in, see the improvements, and know that the management of the bar will be much different.’
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 55-year-old Jeffrey Atkinson, the owner of Cowboys Lodi Bike Stop Bar, who came out of his business with his hands up after the hit-and-run
‘You know what? F*** it, I’m drunk. I’ll admit it. I own a bar,’ Atkinson said after Daytona Police arrived at his business
Atkinson was ultimately arrested on charges of aggravated vehicular assault, child endangering and operating a vehicle while under the influence
Ashley has still not returned back to school since the crash and has been staying home with her mother as she continues to recover.
‘I tell Ashley everyday, “You are not alone. You can start walking again,”‘ her mother told Fox. ‘It’s because a lot of people help us.’
Atkinson was arrested after the accident outside of his bar on charges of aggravated vehicular assault, child endangering and operating a vehicle while under the influence.
But the family said that they’ll never be the same after that day in July, and no punishment would ever be enough to change the irreversible damage that their daughter must live with.
‘I just want to say to him that I hope the Lord forgives him for what he has done to me,’ Ashley told Fox 19.
She had plans to get a prosthetic leg for Christmas, but recently broke a bone in the leg that was amputated and will remain in a cast for four to six weeks.
