Denika Coakley of Cole Harbour says her three-year old daughter Ari Coakley-Dechamp is on the mend after being struck by a vehicle at a crosswalk in Dartmouth last Saturday.
Ari was hit at a crosswalk on Thistle Street and Wyse Road while walking with her family to get ice cream.
“I’m upset, it’s really hard as a mom that someone would drive away. I think that’s what bothers me the most.”The driver has since been charged for failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk.“It is shocking and it’s upsetting,” said Const. Dianne Penfound.
Minor injuries, but repeated hospital visits
Ari was checked at scene by paramedics and suffered minor injuries to her foot as a result of the collision. But she has since been back to the hospital numerous times. “We were in and out of the hospital with a suspected concussion.”Her mother said the incident has also taken a toll mentally on the three-year-old. She said Ari hasn’t been sleeping properly and is now nervous when out for a walk.“We had to cross several streets with parking to get there and Ari was terrified. She was like, ‘Quick mommy quick.’ She kept saying, ‘Is a car going to hit us mommy? Is a car going to hit us again?'”Denika says she worries about the long-term psychological effect the incident will have on Ari.‘Keep your eyes on the road’
Denika says she never thought something like this could happen to her family and now she feels the urge to speak out.
She is urging drivers to pay attention when on the road.
Halifax Regional Police are doing the same.
“My advice to drivers is when you are behind the wheel, keep your eyes on the road at all times,” Penfound said.
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