The following comes from an October 7 story posted on SFGate.com.
Grief-stricken parishioners packed a Daly City church Sunday, a day after a 6-year-old girl walking with her mother to religious school was struck by a car and killed in the church parking lot in front of dozens of horrified church-goers.
“The whole parish is praying for the family. No one has experienced anything like this. … We’re just praying up a storm for them,” said the Rev. Piers Lahey, pastor at St. Andrew Catholic Church, where the incident happened just before 9 a.m. Saturday. “The kids, especially. A lot of kids saw this and we are very concerned for them.”
The girl, identified by the San Francisco medical examiner’s office as Danielle Naval of Daly City, was crossing the parking lot of St. Andrew amid the rush of families and other churchgoers hurrying to Mass and religious school. The driver of a 2007 Toyota minivan apparently lost control of her vehicle and it lurched forward, jumping a curb and pinning the girl, her mother and another woman on the ground, police and witnesses said.
At least six people rushed over and attempted to lift the car, said Jose Lobo, 70, of Daly City, who hurried out of church when he heard the commotion.
“They tried, but they couldn’t lift it because it was too heavy,” said Lobo, who wept Sunday as he recounted the tragedy. “Someone had a jack and they finally got the car lifted, but it was too late.”
The three victims were transported to San Francisco General Hospital , where the girl later died of her injuries. Her mother and the other woman were still hospitalized Monday.
The driver’s name was not released and it was not clear Sunday what, if any, charges would be filed against her. The cause of the collision and circumstances surrounding it remain under investigation by Daly City police.
To read entire story, click here.
We know not the day, nor the hour.
Are you always prepared ?
A terrible tragedy that tells us that life is fleeting. Prayers for all concerned.
My prayers are with this family and may this little girl rest in peace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
“…hurrying to Mass and religious school…”
What a needless tragedy! My parish has a weekly Mass for students from the neighboring Catholic high school and elementary school. The frenetic jam-up of vehicles and the literal dumping-off of students right at 08:00 is abominable. Leave home 10 minutes earlier, parents!
Sometimes elderly drivers hit the gas instead of the brakes and run into people.
The little girl was not yet of the age of Reason, so her soul probably went straight to God.
Pray for the families of both the girl and woman whoes car hit her.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Its sad may she go to heaven R.I.P and she went to my school she is a second grade…
Sincere condolences to you, and all the students, teachers and staff at your school and all those at the Church, and of course to her family. May she be happy in heaven with Jesus and Mary. We are very sad for everyone in their loss. We hope her mother and the other lady get better soon.
I live in Daly City and am saddened at how the Police Department has treated St. Andrew Parish — the many, many faithful Catholics who come to worship and learn about God there are not even permitted to park on the large, empty stretch of street, lest they get ticketed.
This is a very thriving Filipino parish and deserves to get some slack from the City of Daly City, so the voters who attend St. Andrew’s are allowed to park on the city street right next to the church property. Perhaps this horrible tragedy will be a wake-up call to the members of the City Council — one of them has strongly opposed the parking change for the parish, because she is angry at the Catholic Church for its teaching on homosexuality.
And now this little girl dies…
Robert this is so sad….thanks for more information on this story. God bless you and everyone there needing our prayers.