A four-year-old girl who died yesterday morning in a car crash that occurred Wednesday night was only using a lap seat belt even though public law requires children her age to be in a car or booster seat. Her death marks the 13th traffic fatality for the year.
The girl was found on the floorboard in the rear passenger seat of a 2008 Toyota Yaris driven by a 28-year-old man that struck a concrete pole at the tri-intersection traffic light in Barrigada. The Yaris collided with a 2008 Hyundai Tucson.
Guam Police Department spokesman Officer A.J. Balajadia said just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, the driver of the Yaris was seen heading north by a GPD Highway Patrol Officer who was driving south on Route 8. The officer turned around and pursued the Yaris, who was clocked traveling up to 62 miles per hour on the northbound lane.
The driver of the Yaris pulled into the parking lot of the Shell Service Station by Tiyan, making it seem he was going to pull over. Instead, the Yaris went right back to Route 8 towards the tri-intersection and at speeds exceeding more than 100 miles per hour. The driver ran a red light and hit the Tucson before crashing into the pole.
Balajadia said police officers did not know the girl was in the car until they tried to gain access through the passenger side door. CPR was performed on the girl while she was transported to Navy Hospital. Medics were able to get a pulse, but she died at around 7 a.m.
The driver of the Tucson was also taken to Navy Hospital and released this morning. The driver of the Yaris underwent surgery and is in critical condition at the Guam Memorial Hospital.
The case is under investigation by Guam Highway Patrol Division.
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