The life of a Northern Virginia family was changed forever as they walked home from the grocery store in Herndon, Virginia, on Thursday evening.
A woman, man and their 5-year-old son were hit by a driver on Herndon Parkway at about 5 p.m. The father escaped with minor injuries, but he told News4 his little boy and wife are seriously hurt.
Armando Verdugo, his wife, Vanessa, and their son, Yahir, had just picked up some groceries and were almost home when they were hit by a driver who rammed into them on the sidewalk, he said.
Speaking exclusively with News4 and Telemundo 44, Verdugo said he remembers the car appearing in front of them as they walked.
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“I just remember that the car left the street in front of us. The three of us were walking,” he said in Spanish.
The crash knocked him out. When he woke up, he saw that his wife was trapped.
“I looked at the car again. My wife was under the car,” he said.
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Her legs were broken, and she has had to have surgeries on her kidney and liver.
Their son is hurt even more seriously and suffered brain damage, the father said.
“He's fighting for his life, even,” he said.
Fairfax County police say the driver who hit the family near Summerfield Drive stayed on the scene and cooperated with investigators. No charges were immediately filed, and it’s unclear why the driver hit them.
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Verdugo said he’s heartbroken and hopes there’s justice for his family.
He said his son was so happy over the holidays.
“I feel bad seeing him,” he said.
