Toddler's father: "He left her on the side of the road like an animal"

A Muncie man is accused of being behind the wheel in a hit-and-run accident that injured a 2-year-old girl at a mobile home park.

"He slowed down for the speed bump, but not for my daughter," said Alexandria's father, John Nelson.

Alexandria Nelson's left arm still has tire marks on it.  She is in a neck brace and both of her legs are wrapped up.  She has road rash from head-to-toe.

"She is doing a little better, but she is in a lot of pain," said Alexandria's mother, Elisabeth Rigney.  "She wakes up and cries, cries for her mom and her dad.  "

"It just breaks your heart to know that she is not smiling like that right now, maybe a long time," said Nelson.

Alexandria's parents do not know Doreto Chavez very well.  They have only seen him in passing.

"We have told him to slow down quite a few times," said Nelson.

Chavez admitted he ran over Alexandria.  Chavez told police he was scared after hitting the 2-year-old, so he took off and went home.  Cops said they could smell alcohol on him and in his car too.

"He left her on the side of the road like an animal," said Nelson, "like it did not mean anything to him that it was a child."

Fox59 knocked on the door of Chavez's trailer Tuesday. The man who answered spoke pretty good English until he was asked about the accident.  Muncie Police said Chavez has driven drunk before, John Nelson is worried he will do it again.

Chavez is now out of jail. Alexandria's family will be at Riley until she gets better.

"It does not seem fair to her," said Nelson.  "She did not do anything to him.  He is going to be sitting there, doing whatever it is that he is doing in his free time, and my little girl is up in a hospital room."