Vehicle strikes three-year-old girl

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The holiday nearly turned to tragedy for a Buffalo family. A little girl is lucky to be alive after she was hit by a car in front of her home.

Kaisertown resident Cheryl Keller was outside on her porch when she watched as her neighbor's 3-year-old daughter got hit by a blue SUV on South Ogden Street.

"I heard a big loud boom and then I heard the lady screaming," Keller said.

The 3-year-old girl, named Destiny, and her mother were packing up their car to go to the Buffalo Zoo for Labor Day, Keller told News 4.

"She went to follow her mother, and as she went after her mother, that's when the car came and hit her. I'd say at least 10 feet the baby flew into the air."

Buffalo Police say the girl was taken to Women and Children's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses say she was talking at the scene and the driver had apparently spotted her in the roadway, attempting to stop.

So far, no charges have been filed against the driver.

Residents say it didn't appear speed was a factor in this accident, but that it is often an issue in their neighborhood.

"This street is full of kids and if people are speeding the way they are another thing like this is going to happen; it;s guaranteed," said Kayla Rabideau.

This section of South Ogden is close to the 190 on and off ramps. Residents say for years now, drivers won't slow down when they come off or approach the highway.

Christina Cabezas said, "I've actually come at nighttime and they speed off that highway 70, 80, 90 miles an hour, And half of the time they've been young folk."

Common Council President Rich Fontana tells News 4 he will request extra police speed patrol in the area.