'Turn yourself in:' Mom of woman hurt in Glendale hit-and-run urges driver to 'do the right thing'
GLENDALE -- FOX6 News on Sunday, Nov. 24 spoke with Lula Griffin as she pleaded with the person who hit her daughter as she crossed the street in Glendale on Friday, Nov. 22 to turn themselves in.
Griffin said her daughter was crossing at Silver Spring Drive and Port Washington Avenue on Friday evening -- trying to catch the bus home. Instead, the 20-year-old took an ambulance to the hospital.
Glendale police said the crash happened around 5:15 p.m.
Armani Griffin had just finished her shift at the Taco Bell restaurant Friday, Lula Griffin said.
"A lady did yield," said Griffin.
Armani Griffin
Armani began to cross to catch the bus home but was hit by another vehicle, and the driver took off -- leaving the woman with a broken tibia and fibula. Griffin said the woman who yielded helped block traffic after the crash.
"Thank you, ma'am," said Griffin. "Whoever you are, thank you so much for being in the right place at the right -- wrong time. Thank you so much. You saved my baby's life. Thank you. Thank you."
She also offered thanks to the police, firefighters, and paramedics who tended to her daughter, who needed surgery on Saturday and would remain in the hospital until she gained enough strength to be released.
"We're praying she's going to have a speedy recovery so she can get back on her feet because she works to take care of herself," said Griffin.
While Griffin and her family were counting their blessings, knowing this could have been worse, she lamented the epidemic of people being hit by vehicles in Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs.
"This hit and run thing, it has to stop," said Griffin. "All of these inconsiderate drivers, if you can't follow the laws of the road, slow down and pay attention, then maybe you should get on the bus, or you should walk."
She also had a message for the person who hit her daughter and left the scene.
"If you're out there, just turn yourself in," said Griffin. "I'm not going to ask you to stop driving. I'm asking you to turn yourself in, and do what's right."
Glendale police on Monday, Nov. 25 released a description of the striking vehicle -- a dark, possibly blue, SUV or crossover vehicle with Wisconsin license plate number starting with AED or something similar. The vehicle sustained damage to the front passenger side headlamp, which was still operable, but hanging down after the crash.
With Glendale police investigating the crash, Armani Griffin's family started a GoFundMe.com account to help with their daughter's mounting medical bills.
CLICK HERE to access that account.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Glendale police at 414-228-1753.