Girl, Grandmother Recovering After Horrific Crash In Worcester
BOSTON (CBS) – Surveillance video showing the moment an SUV careened into a five-year-old girl and her grandmother was shown during a dangerousness hearing for the suspect, Thursday.
Cassandra McAuliffe is charged with assault with a deadly weapon after police say she ran into Doris Arias, 55, and her granddaughter, Sylvana. McCauliffe was found to be dangerous and ordered held without bail for 120 days.
"I know the best part is that they're both alive," said Violeta Crisostomo outside UMass Memorial Hospital.
Violeta still spends many hours at her mom's hospital bedside, as Doris Arias heals from multiple broken bones. "I think she got the worst part of it because she was trying to protect my daughter," says Violeta.
Violeta's mother and daughter were waiting at a Worcester bus stop last week when a woman who police say was chasing her ex-boyfriend's pickup truck in her SUV allegedly plowed into them.
"It was not an accident," Violeta says, "even though that person didn't want this to happen."
She barely remembers her panicky drive to the hospital. But she clearly recalls the hardest part of seeing her bloodied, five-year-old daughter Sylvana in the ER.
"Me trying not to cry in front of her," said Violeta, "trying to be strong with all that blood everywhere."
Despite a fractured skull, the little girl is now back home. But the nightmares and anxiety persist.
"She's not ever going to be the same," Violeta said with a shake of her head.
She appreciates the community support that has come her family' way, and is trying to stay positive, even as Cassandra McAuliffe stands accused of assault with a deadly weapon for running down her loved ones.
"I just hope she can get herself together," says Violeta, "but she has to be accountable for her actions."
Violeta has spoken with attorneys about a possible lawsuit to cover medical bills, and hopes that when her family heals, they will all be stronger.
"This is just a test," she said.
Violeta's mom will likely be moved from UMass Memorial to a rehab facility in the next week or so, where she still faces a long recovery. Violeta is trying to get her young daughter focused on starting kindergarten in the fall.
WBZ-TV's Louisa Moller and Ken MacLeod contributed to this report.
