Janet Snyder and Addison Snyder, 4, lay a stuffed animal and flowers near the intersection where Shyla and Shianna Aston were struck by a vehicle Thursday night. Shyla, 4, died of her injuries on Friday. Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES
Story Created:
May 8, 2009 at 2:48 PM EST
Story Updated:
May 8, 2009 at 11:23 PM EST
MISHAWAKA — Two small circles, painted by investigators onto the pavement, mark the spot where two young sisters tried to cross 11th Street and Dodge Avenue in Mishawaka.
The accident happened around 7:15 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Union and 11th streets in Mishawaka.
The sounds and images were still very much on 13-year-old Ricky Swanson's mind Friday afternoon. Less than 24 hours before, he was playing basketball with friends when the crash happened.
"Right when my ball hit the rim we heard something really loud," he remembered. "We just saw two little bodies rolling underneath the car. It was horrible."
Alan Knepp heard it too. Then, Knepp told WSBT the driver of the car, 56-year-old Leroy Hoover, acted like he was going to leave the scene.
"So I jumped in front of him with my gun, threw my hand up, told him to stop, ran up in front of him and took his keys," Knepp said.
Police took Hoover in for questioning, but did not arrest him. Medics rushed 4-year-old Shyla Aston and her 6-year-old sister Shianna to Memorial Hospital. According to a news release from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office, Shyla later died, and Shianna remains in critical condition.
Shianna is a kindergartener at Emmons Elementary School in Mishawaka. A school spokesperson said social workers were on hand for counseling Friday. He called it a "terrible tragedy," and said "our hearts go out to the family."
Sadly, this is the second time a car hit a child this week. Monday an SUV hit 5-year-old Kweli Quiroz when he ran in front of it in a South Bend parking lot. He was airlifted to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis.
"Kids can dart out between a parked car and there's no reaction time," said Mishawaka Assistant Police Chief Mike Samp. "That's gotta be the worst thing in the world is to have to live with that."
Police want accidents like these to be a lesson for everyone.
"It's not unusual for a kid to be distracted and to run out in front of a vehicle. That's why it's gotta be the driver's responsibility to watch for them," said Samp.
Neighbors say Hoover was speeding when he hit the girls Thursday night, but investigators say they're not sure if he was.
The Fatal Alcohol Crash Team is investigating. Police would not say whether Hoover was impaired by drugs or alcohol.
