A six-year-old girl was killed and her grandmother was critically injured after they were struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in northeast Miami-Dade Wednesday morning.
Betasha Bien-Aime and her grandmother, Emilia Frenel, were walking southbound on N.E. 13th Place when they were hit by a car traveling northbound, Miami-Dade Police said.
"I don't know how I'm going to cope with this because this is a very, very tough time for me," mother Marie Bien-Aime said.
The incident happened near Madie Ives Elementary School around 7:15 a.m., Miami-Dade Fire Officials said.
Miami-Dade Police officials said the 16-year-old driver stayed at the scene.
Paramedics were seen placing the child and adult into the back of ambulances. Both were taken to a nearby hospital as trauma alerts, the grandmother to Jackson Memorial Hospital and the girl to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, officials said.
The six-year-old later died at the hospital. Frenel was listed in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Police officials said traffic was heavy in the area because of the nearby school. The 15 mph school speed zone didn't start until 7:30 a.m.
Marie Bien-Aime said a teen driver had crashed into the fence that surrounds her home once before. Then, her daughter was in the front yard, but the fence possibly saved her life.
"The problem with those kids going to school in the morning, they are rushing, are speeding and they forget they are driving in a school zone," the mother said. "We're talking about 15 mph, to kill a 6-year-old and send my mom to the hospital. This is devastating and I'm going to fight this to the end until I find justice."
Detectives are investigating whether distracted driving or speeding played a factor, and officials said it was too early to tell if the driver will be charged.
Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.
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