Dallas police have arrested a 67-year-old man in connection with a tragic hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of Destiny Wright, a 6-year-old girl, over the weekend.
The incident took place late Saturday night when Destiny, who had autism, managed to slip out of her family’s townhome. According to a report from Fox 4 News, Destiny’s grandmother says she unlocked two deadbolts and wandered into the streets before being struck by a white Acura MDX on Belt Line Road.
At 10:30 p.m. on February 16, officers responded to the crash scene. They found the young girl with severe injuries, and she was immediately rushed to Children’s Medical Center. Tragically, Destiny passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Dallas police initially struggled to identify the driver responsible for the hit-and-run. According to a department report, security footage from a nearby shopping center provided a key clue. The footage showed the white Acura SUV circling back to the area after striking Destiny and then fleeing the scene.
After a few days of searching by investigators, they identified the vehicle’s owner as David Polley. Video footage from a business showed the SUV’s movements after the crash, and police confirmed that the damage to Polley’s car matched that of the crash.
On Tuesday, Polley turned himself into authorities through his attorney, admitting that he was the driver involved in the fatal collision. He was arrested and charged with a collision involving death. Polley was booked into the Dallas County Jail but has since bonded out, reported Fox.
Destiny’s grandmother, Mary Friday, shared the heartbreaking details of the moments leading up to the crash. She described how she discovered that her granddaughter was missing after noticing her daughter’s door was open. Destiny had escaped while her grandfather was walking to a nearby store. Friday also spoke on Destiny’s frequent wanderings due to her autism.
“Everybody wants to hear the story. Everybody wants to hear why weren’t you watching her? Why didn’t you do this? There is nothing that you can say that we haven’t said…She unlocked the door. There were two deadbolts: Bottom lock, deadbolt lock, and a chain. And we didn’t have the chain on.” Friday explained.
“I have a daughter who lost a daughter, and it would be selfish of me to think of what I am going through and knowing she lost her only child,” she added.
While Polley has been arrested and released, police have not yet disclosed further details about the crash, such as whether alcohol or speeding played a role in the incident or why the man failed to stop and render aid to the child.