Monday, June 4, 2007; Posted: 6:45 p.m. (CDT)
Oklahoma City Police are looking for a man who hit and killed a three-year-old girl. Trinity Coleman was rushed to the hospital in critical condition Sunday night. Witnesses say she was hit by a vehicle in front of Mustang Trails Elementary School around 9:00 p.m. Coleman had died from her injuries Monday around 4:00 a.m. at a local hospital.
While police continue to search for their suspect, a nearby community is trying to learn from the tragedy.
Paige Yates lives in the mobile home park across the street from Mustang Trails Elementary. She was saddened when she learned of the tragic accident, but says common sense could've prevented it.
"If the people would just go the speed limit and know that if there's a school right there, there's got to be kids who live around 15th Street," says Yates.
Police aren't sure how fast the driver was going when Coleman ran into the street. She and two other neighborhood children were playing at the school's playground. Coleman was running back home across the street when she was hit.
The driver did not stop.
"We have information to believe that this vehicle did slow down, but never stopped. Seconds later the vehicle came back to the scene, but again didn't slow down," says Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Paco Balderrama.
Police, along with Yates and several others are wondering if the children were being supervised.
"I do know that is a concern to the viewers as far as were these children being supervised. Once the investigation is complete, we'll be able to have a little bit of a better idea exactly what happened," says Balderrama.
Yates says area kids who are going to cross the busy street alone should use their own common sense.
"Keep your eyes open for any cars coming around you," says Yates.
Police are now looking for the man who hit Coleman. He's described as a white male around 50-years-old. He could be driving a 90's model dark blue Mercury Cougar. Police believe the tag number is UXS 923.
Call Crime Stoppers at 235-7300 if you have any information.
