Van Drags Girl
By: Rachele Cermak
According to the Pioneer Press front page article, a 33-year-old man driving with a suspended license hit an 11-year-old West Saint Paul girl and dragged her body about 500 yards on Tuesday January 30, 2007, around 6 p.m.
Gladys Reyes was crossing the Wentworth and Robert Street intersection with her friend as Mauricio Sanchez turned left and hit her. Another driver, David Carrera of South St. Paul witnessed the incident, called the police and followed Sanchez. Sanchez pulled into a parking lot and tried to flee the scene but police and canine units quickly caught him.
The Pioneer Press article quotes Antonia Carrera, “This is a really poor family from what I can see. Maybe the community should try to get together and help this family out.� The Star Tribune article covering the story interviewed the girl’s neighbors Jill and Joe Garibay, “Gladys is a permanent fixture around here.� They said she was always welcome in their home and never missed the opportunity to unload groceries, help their children clean their bedroom or baby-sit when needed.
Gladys is in critical condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. The man is being held in the Dakota County jail and could face charges of criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under a suspended license. Blood tests haven’t come back yet to see if drugs or alcohol were involved.