SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 4-year-old girl is dead and her mother still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mercy San Juan Medical Center after crashing into a tree Thursday morning.
According to a press release from CHP - North Sacramento, officers received reports of a crash near Winding Way and Dewey Drive around 7:20 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.
Upon arrival, CHP and Sacramento Metro Fire found a woman believed to be in her 30s and a little girl inside a Subaru that was "split in two parts." Both were taken to a nearby hospital, where the young girl later died.
The mother told CHP she was driving home with her daughter, at an unknown speed, and claimed an "unidentified truck cut her off causing her to lose control of the vehicle."
The family has identified the 4-year-old as Jer'Liyah Stevenson and the mother as Chardae Murphy. The family is asking for help identifying the other vehicle who might have been involved in the traffic incident.
Stevenson's grandmother, Cheri Chadwick, tearfully cried out about the loss of her grandchild.
"She was with me every second of every chance that I got," exclaimed Chadwick. "That’s all I did was work and be with my grandbaby. And she loved her grandma and I loved her the same and it’s not fair. She’s gone, over some stupid a** s*** like this that don’t make sense. I’m sorry.”
Chadwick said her daughter was in and out of consciousness but was able to speak briefly about what happened during the traffic incident.
“She told me she just dropped her daughter off," explained Chadwick. "She was coming down Winding Way Road and I guess she went in front of a car and the car got upset and it backed in front of her and then it started putting on its breaks and antagonizing her."
Chadwick is asking the public for any help they can provide.
“I just want justice," said Chadwick. "I want him to pay. I want an apology for one."
CHP said in the release that the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this crash is encouraged to contact CHP at 916-348-2300.
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