• Tweet
• Share
• Email
• Print

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Sunday marked one year since three young girls were hit by a car in a North Las Vegas crosswalk.

The accident happened on Oct. 21, 2011 in the crosswalk at Camino Eldorado and Bent Arrow Drive.

Amelia "Mia" Decker, 6, died from her injuries. Her friends -- Rain and Alyssa Mowery -- were seriously injured.

Family and friends of the girls gathered in Eldorado Park, where Mia spent some of her last moments of life. They released purple balloons into the sky, to honor her memory.

"This was Mia's favorite place to be," says her father, Chris Decker. "The girls were walking home from this park, when they were hit. It's bittersweet to be here. It's been a year, and she's still the first person I think about when I wake up, and the last person I think about before I go to bed."

Chris acknowledges that the one-year anniversary of the crash that killed his daughter ,should also be a time to give thanks for the lives that were saved.

"We honor the fact that Alyssa and Rain are still with us," he says. "It's a miracle."
 
Except for lasting emotional scars, Rain is fully recovered. But, Alyssa suffered a serious brain injury in the accident. Though she's made huge progress, she'll never be the same little girl.

"I lost a daughter in that accident too," says Alyssa and Rain's mom, Christin Mowery. "I never got to say good-bye to the old Alyssa. I love the new Alyssa. She's beautiful, and a blessing to be here. But I really miss the old Alyssa."

The accident has prompted changes at the crosswalk. New signs with flashing lights are now in plain view. But the Decker's and Mowery's say a bigger change still needs to come from drivers.

"Stop, and slow down," Christin says. "If you see a crosswalk, let people cross, and wait until they make it to the other side of the street."

Unfortunately, it's a safety request, that seems to get ignored. Since the accident that killed Mia, the number of auto-pedestrian accidents & deaths, across the valley have been increasing.

"It's discouraging, maddening, infuriating," Chris says. "It's got to change."

The elderly driver who hit the three little girls pled no contest to the charges she faced. Her driver's license was suspended for two years, and she was ordered to pay $5,000 worth of fines.

Mia's mom, Michele Terry, and Mia's older sister, Kaelyn now live out-of-state. Action News was in touch with them over the phone. They say the one year-anniversary of the accident brings painful memories, but they find comfort knowing Mia is watching over them.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has organized a fundraiser to help the Mowery family pay for experimental treatments that could help Alyssa's brain injury. Twenty-five percent of sales from  3-7 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 24, will go to Alyssa. But this is only valid at two Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations: 3390 Novat St. (off the 215, near Cheyenne in Las Vegas) or 76 West Horizon Ridge Pkwy. in Henderson.