Toddler spends birthday out of hospital after being run over by suspected drunk driver

From being confined to a hospital bed, to being chased on a playground.  Life is slowly getting back to normal for the family of Alex Nelson.

"A lot of hair missing and some scars, but we would much rather have scars than no Alex," said John Nelson, Alex’s father.

In August, 2-year-old Alex was run over and dragged by Doreto Chavez.  Police said he was drunk behind the wheel.  Chavez knew what he did and still, he did not stop.  Even though Alex just turned three, she remembers what happened.

“She says, 'That bad man ran me over.'  'That bad man needs to go to jail.'  She knows everything,” said Nelson.

That man is nowhere to be found.  We knocked on the door of Chavez after he bonded out of jail in August.  No one can find him.  There is a warrant out for his arrest.  Nelson can only think about Chavez’s next victim.

"It is frustrating to know that someone like this is still out there and there are people who are convicted of smaller things that do not ever get the chance to get out,” said Nelson.  “It is real frustrating."

Nelson said the family is focused on a sweeter tune, working on the positive steps to get their little gift back to full speed.

"They were calling her 'a miracle' at Riley, the nurses were,” said Nelson.  “They said we were real lucky, just a little bit more and she could have been done."

A fund has been set up to help the family pay mounting medical bills.  If you would like to donate you can go to any First Merchants Bank location. The account number is 0200445554.