A fund has been set up to help the family of 11-year-old Mercy Martinez, who was severely injured when she was struck by a van earlier this week.
Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons said earlier that the McKinley Elementary sixth-grader was listed in stable condition at Oakland Children's Hospital and was scheduled to undergo surgery on her arm and her leg on Thursday. Mercy was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and later flown to Oakland for injuries she sustained when she and a friend darted in front of a van driven by a 34-year-old Rohnert Park man on Ellis Drive Tuesday afternoon.
Though the driver swerved to avoid the girls, Mercy was struck and run over by the white Ford van. She was originally listed in critical condition, but has since been downgraded to stable.
"Mercy's mother has been unable to work because she's with her daughter in Oakland," said Lyons Thursday morning. "Her nearest relatives are out of state and things have obviously been difficult for the family."
Anyone wishing to help can make a donation to the Mercy Fund at Umpqua Bank, formerly known as Circle Bank.
The Petaluma Police Department is also collecting toys and food for the family. They are accepting toy and food donations at the station on Petaluma Boulevard North through Monday, Dec. 24. Police are asking the public to bring toy and food donations to them, which they will deliver to the family on Christmas day.
The Petaluma Police Department station is located at 969 Petaluma Boulevard North. For more information call 778-4372.
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