Family of 3-year-old hurt in Uber crash trying ‘to have faith’ despite drivers not charged in case

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 3-year-old girl faces the possibility of never walking again following a severe crash involving the Uber vehicle her family was traveling in.

Evelyn Medina, critically injured and reliant on a ventilator, remains in critical condition. Doctors express concerns that she may suffer paralysis from the neck down.

Miriam Medina, Evelyn’s older sister, tearfully shared with ABC13 on Thursday that her family, deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, holds onto hope for a miraculous recovery for Evelyn. Miriam rushed home from college to support her entire family during this challenging time.

The tragic incident unfolded on a serene Sunday evening. The Medina family had visited a flea market on Airline, located in Houston’s northside, for some shopping. Around 7:45 p.m., they summoned an Uber for their journey home.

A light-colored van arrived to pick them up, turning from Airline onto Gulf Bank Road, heading towards the North Freeway. It was then that a white F-350 truck struck the rear of the Uber vehicle before speeding away.

To the Medinas’ horror, their Uber followed the fleeing truck. New surveillance footage obtained by ABC13 captured the F-350 and the van speeding down Gulf Bank Road. Minutes later, along the North Freeway service road, the truck executed a U-turn under I-45 and fled the scene, leaving the Uber to collide with a traffic control box, resulting in Evelyn’s critical injuries.

Miriam expressed the family’s anguish, stating that while Evelyn can see and hear them, she currently requires a ventilator to breathe.

Evelyn’s parents also sustained injuries in the crash. Her father suffered a severe head wound, a black eye, and required multiple stitches.

As of now, neither the truck driver nor the Uber driver has faced charges.

“It’s unsettling that we lack answers at this stage,” remarked Alex Farias-Sorrels, the attorney representing the Medina family. “We were informed that the initial driver was intoxicated and fled the scene, yet no action has been taken.”

Houston Police Department disclosed that the truck driver may have been intoxicated but awaits test results. HPD mentioned that the Harris County District Attorney’s Office was present at the crash scene but preferred to await completion of further investigative procedures before pursuing criminal charges.

“A young girl’s life hangs in the balance, and her family deserves answers,” asserted Farias-Sorrels. “Multiple individuals should be held accountable.”

The Medina family has faced numerous challenges. Their father works in construction to support his wife and three children. Miriam, an accomplished student, graduated from HISD under the Emerge program for talented, underprivileged students. She presently attends Johns Hopkins University on a full scholarship but faces uncertainty about continuing her studies due to her family’s circumstances.

“We may not have been wealthy in material possessions, but we possessed abundant love and a strong familial bond,” expressed the 19-year-old Miriam, who aspired to provide her younger sister with opportunities she herself did not have growing up.

A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist the family with mounting medical expenses.