KELLER, Texas — A Keller teenager with big track and field dreams is now in a coma after being run over by a drunk driver.
The family of 14-year-old Nina Alvarez said in a post on their GoFundMe page that she is currently in a coma.
"We do not know how long this will last, but we need your prayers now more than ever," the post reads. "Nina is battling physical injuries from fractures to road rash all over her body, and the doctors anticipate that they will continue to find more throughout her stay in the hospital. But they are really concerned about her brain injuries. There is still a lot of reason for hope because she is so young, but she will be needing not only physical therapy but also brain therapy."
The family Alvarez says running is her passion. Nina is a student at Indian Springs Middle School with her sights set on being a high school track star next year.
Keller Police say the driver who struck her; should not have been behind the wheel at all.
Now, the teen's father Leo Alvarez is monitoring her progress at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center. Alvarez's biggest concern is her brain injury after learning from doctors that Nina also suffered head injuries when she was hit.
"We're going to help you. We're going to be there every step of the way," said Alvarez.
Keller police say around 6:30 p.m. Thursday they responded to a person hit on Bear Creek Parkway. They found the 14-year-old lying in the street. Nina's mother knew something went wrong on her daughter's run because they tracked her on an app and suddenly there was no movement. Shortly after she started seeing social media posts about a person hit on Bear Creek Parkway, they feared the worst.
Nina's father was more than 3 hours away from home working when he got the call about the incident. He pulled over frustrated because he felt helpless at the time.
"She's going to be in surgery because she got a fractured hip. So that's I know is going to be very complicated because that's broken many pieces," Leo Alvarez said.
Keller PD says the driver they believe struck Nina cooperated at the scene. Officers arrested 67-year-old Michael Mango for Intoxication assault with a vehicle causing bodily injury.
"To go out drunk in a pickup truck, you have no idea how much damage you can do," said Alvarez.
According to her father, Nina had always planned to run cross country when she got to high school. She is one of four children and the only girl. Her father says Nina has been athletic since she was a little girl.
"She's super friendly. I remember in Mexico, when she was a kid, she was 2 or 3 years old. We went to McDonald's when we got home, she said, I got two, or three friends. I asked, what's their name, and she said I don't know, but they're my friends."
Her father says the entire family plans to help Nina fight for her dreams as an athlete.
"She loves sports. She has done an amazing job at swimming, basketball, volleyball and now running because she got more in condition for that. we are planning for scholarship in college," said Alvarez.
Nina's long road to recovery will come with huge medical bills. Family and friends have started two fundraisers to help the Alvarez family.