Family mourns 5-year-old killed in crash, prays for her 2-month-old sister

REVERE, Mass. — The family of a 5-year-old girl struck and killed by a driver in Revere who plowed into five pedestrians is praying for a miracle for the girl's 2-month-old sister, who remains in critical condition after also being struck.

“Everyone loved that little girl," family member Sylvia Quijada said Tuesday of 5-year-old Adrianna Mejia-Rivera, who died at the scene on Sunday.

The driver, 42-year-old Autumn Harris, was held on $10,000 bail during her arraignment Monday. Not-guilty pleas to charges including motor vehicle homicide were entered on her behalf.

"We need justice," Quijada said.

Authorities say two adults and three children were on a grass median near the intersection of Route 145 and North Shore Road in Revere at about 5 p.m. Sunday when they were struck.

Adrianna's little sister, 2-month-old Natasha, is fighting for her life at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Her mother and father never stop crying. It’s very bad in the hospital," Quijada said.

"It's very sad, it’s very sad because it’s a kid," Carlos Valencia, a family friend of Mejia-Rivera, said.

A third child and two adults were hospitalized with less serious injuries, as well as a 30-year-old passenger in Harris' car.

Strangers have been visiting the site of the fatal crash and adding to a growing memorial.

"We are part of the community and I felt like it was rightful to do and I just felt like it was in my heart to do this," said Leslie Peguero of Revere.

A heartbreaking note was also left by a child calling Adrianna her best friend.

Grief counselors have been at Garfield Elementary School where her family said she loved going to class.

“Really, really happy we happy when she goes to school, she was excited," said Quijada.

Mejia-Rivera's uncle visited the site where she died, and said that close family was still at Mass. General Hospital with the baby in the ICU.

Outside of Chelsea District Court Monday, the mother of the woman behind the wheel of the SUV said she called her shortly after she was arrested.

"I feel so bad for those kids," Harris's mother Maureen said. “She said I don’t know, all of a sudden it just happened.”

Officials say Harris allegedly stated she had consumed one beer earlier in the afternoon, had taken prescription and over-the-counter medication to help her sleep the night before and that she had only slept for two hours before working all day Sunday. Harris allegedly said she had vaped CBD oil in the vehicle and may have nodded off at the wheel.

“She’s had a deteriorating spine and a lot of issues with it," Maureen Harris said.

Harris was unable to take a breath test, according to the DA.  Investigators obtained a search warrant for a blood sample and her cell phone to help them figure out if she was impaired or distracted.

Harris' mother said her daughter's heart is broken and she is "obviously in shame."

She is due back in court on Jan. 10, 2019.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the funeral arrangements for Mejia-Rivera. The page can be found by clicking here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Cox Media Group