A 6-year-old girl was killed Sunday in a hit-and-run crash in Dallas Sunday night, police say. Nearby surveillance video captured the incident.
According to a statement from Dallas police, at about 10:25 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, officers were called to a hit-and-run crash involving a child on the 5900 block of Belt Line Road.
Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are
WATCH HERE“Absolute tragedy, it’s unfair,” said a woman who witnessed the aftermath on Sunday night and brought flowers to the scene on Monday.
Surveillance video obtained by NBC 5 showed a child running from Ladera Drive into oncoming traffic headed westbound on Belt Line Road. In the video, a different driver is seen slowing down and almost stopping to avoid hitting the child.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning with NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
SIGN UP Seconds later, Dallas police said a driver headed westbound in a newer model, white Acura MDX, struck the girl in the street.
Moments later, some drivers stopped and turned on their hazard lights.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"I had noticed a gentleman in the street with his hazards, and I was turning to talk to my husband. I had seen the body. 'I was like, no, turn around. I think that was a baby," said the witness.
Officers said the driver of the SUV that struck the girl pulled into an adjacent parking lot before leaving without providing any assistance.
"We're hoping someone recognizes that vehicle, that is the actual vehicle," said Lt. Tramese Jones with the Dallas Police Department.
The car was last seen headed west on Belt Line Road.
"As a parent myself of a 6-year-old, this is just absolutely heartbreaking, and so I ask again, if anyone knows anything, please call 911. You know, for the person who may have done this, if you're watching this, please turn yourself in," pleaded Jones.
The child was taken to a hospital, where she later died, according to police. Because of the child's age, police said they're not releasing her name.
"My thing is, why didn’t they stop? Why didn’t they stop? If they stopped here (in the parking lot), why didn’t they get out and call 911 right then and there?" said the witness.
She added that a man at the corner gas station ran to the scene when he saw the police lights. The witness said the man identified himself as the child's grandfather.
“From what he was saying, he was running here when he saw the cars and felt something was wrong," said the witness.
Dallas police are asking the public for information about the car and driver. People can contact Det. Kyle Land at kyle.land@dallaspolice.gov or phone 214-671-0014.
