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Witnesses: 5-year-old girl struck by hit-and-run driver flew 9 feet into the air

Posted at 8:45 PM, Jul 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-09 06:31:11-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- The search for a hit-and-run driver who struck a young child came to an end around 9:15 Wednesday night.

Police said she turned herself about 30 minutes after the story was published on WTVR.com.

"The world is so evil that if you get on TV and show your face, they may come back and harm you," said a woman who lives across the street from where the five-year-old girl was hit by a car said. She asked us to hide her identity.

But she does have strong words for the female driver that fled.

caption id="attachment_818534" align="aligncenter" width="770"]A photo shows where a hit-and-run driver plowed into a 5-year-old (SOURCE: CBS 6 reporter Jon Burkett) A photo shows where a hit-and-run driver plowed into a 5-year-old (SOURCE: CBS 6 reporter Jon Burkett)[/caption]

"How could you be so evil and wicked. Hit this little girl and drive off,” she said. “It could've been your child. If you have a conscience, come back and turn yourself in."

Richmond police were circling the block looking for the driver, when that driver turned herself in.

Michael Latta had been one of the first witnesses to run to the little girl’s side. "She was awake. Her legs were hurting and she couldn't move one of them,” Latta said.

Police said the girl was taken to VCU Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Neighbors said she lives on Dove Street. That’s where the little girl hit and tossed into the air about nine feet high before landing, according to Latta, who said he thought the driver wasn't speeding.

"She was going like 15 miles per hour, but she wasn't paying attention, looking the other way and hit the kid."

Police said charges are pending.

Stay with WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for updates on this developing story. 

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