While a Des Moines girl recovers from injuries after being hit by an SUV, her mother’s employer is asking Iowans will help with the family’s medical bills. Thirteen-year-old Samantha Smith was one block away from her south Des Moines elementary school Tuesday morning, when she was run over by a vehicle.
The driver of the SUV, 21-year-old Anson Pierce, said he didn’t see the girl. Police say Pierce failed to clean his windshield of frost and charged him with Serious Injury by Vehicle and Reckless Driving. Smith suffered injuries that include a broken leg and cracked ribs. Her mother, April Rice, works at a Long John Silver’s restaurant on Des Moines southeast side.
The store plans to donate 100-percent of it’s sales on Monday to the family to help pay for Samatha’s hospital stay. Other Long John Silver’s locations in Urbandale, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Dubuque will collect donations. More information is available on-line at www.NellisManagement.com .