One of Three Girls Hit By Car Wednesday Still in Critical Condition

One of three teenage girls hit by a car in a North Hollywood crosswalk remained hospitalized in critical condition today, according to her family.

The 14-year-old Valley Village girls were struck by a Toyota Prius around 1:35 p.m. Wednesday near the Magnolia Boulevard offramp of the southbound Hollywood (170) Freeway.

Authorities said the driver had just exited the freeway when he lost control of the car, which hit two other vehicles before striking the eighth-graders.

The girls attend nearby Oakwood School and had been on the way back to the campus after a P.E. class at a nearby park. Counselors were at the school today to speak to students and staff.

The family of the most seriously injured girl, whose name was withheld, released a statement this morning and asked for privacy.

"We hope for a full recovery, but she is still in critical condition," the girl's mother said. "We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from friends, family and Oakwood School."

A California Highway Patrol official said late Wednesday that the girl was on life support with severe head injuries.

The other girls were recovering from injuries that included a broken arm and dislocated hip.

The 48-year-old driver of the Prius, who also lives in Valley Village, was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Officer Leland Tang of the CHP -- the agency investigating the crash -- said the Prius has a black box and investigators would be able to download information about what happened to determine if the brakes failed, as the driver told investigators.

"We're not going to hang this on his word," Tang said. "We'll take the car apart and look at everything."

--City News Service