PONTIAC, Mich. – A 3-year-old girl who was hit by an alleged drunk driver Friday has died.
Alysea Stilwell was on the way to the hospital Friday with her 16-year-old brother, Joseph Lucio; 3-year-old daughter, Tabatha Brown; and 2-year-old nephew, David Newland Jr. to visit their Nana, the woman who raised them, when their Montana was crushed by an SUV that ran a red light at Woodward and South Boulevard.
Ben Veach is Stilwell and Lucio's grandfather. He and 11 family members drove all night from Tennessee when they got the news. Stilwell is in serious condition and was originally at Henry Ford.
"They brought her back up to Beaumont to be with her daughter because I don't think they wanted to tell the family," Veach said. "You don't want to take away that last shred of hope."
He said the family was not ready to lose such a vibrant spirit in 3-year-old Tabatha.
"We just hope He sees fit to leave us another angel on Earth because we don't have enough here," Veach said. "She was just a joy."
Police have charged the other driver, Ieshia Barnes, with drunk driving causing serious injuries -- a five-year felony. But family members said that's not enough.
"I think she ought to go to prison for quite a while," said Veach.
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Family members told Local 4 Tuesday evening that Tabatha was declared brain dead. Family members said she will be kept alive until her organs can be donated.
Lucio and David remain listed in critical condition. Stilwell's other son, Braylon, was not in the car at the time. He is OK.
Charges against Barnes are likely to be increased with Tabatha's death.