DAVIE, Fla. – A young boy who was hit and dragged by an SUV earlier this month while riding his bicycle in Davie received a brand new bike on Wednesday.
Ming Lim, 9, has been in a wheelchair ever since he was struck by the vehicle Oct. 4 while riding his bike to school.
Surveillance video shows a Suburban making a right turn in the 6500 block of Southwest 39th Street, driving over the bicycle as Ming tried to get up.
Police said the boy was dragged for nearly 500 feet.
"Unfortunately, in this situation she appears not to be paying attention to what was going on," Davie police Sgt. Mark Leone said. "We have multiple witnesses who are in fact saying she was on a cellphone as she was exiting a driveway when this young man pulled up on his bicycle."
Police said a witness flagged down the driver, who said she didn't realize she hit the child.
"He's very small," Leone said. "Once he got underneath that vehicle, wearing that helmet and that backpack definitely contributed to saving his life."
Ming, who spent a few days in the hospital, has a cast and said that he still feels pain.
His mother said she often tries to comfort him.
"(He says), 'Don't touch me. This side hurt.' He say, 'Ma, I can't sleep on this side. I hurt,'" Ming's mother said.
Since the incident, a generous business owner decided to step in and purchase a new bike, bookbag and a helmet for Ming, as all three were seriously damaged on the morning he was hit.
"It's the right thing to do," City RV's owner Dean Isenberg said. "I was brought up and taught (that) it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."
It'll be awhile before Ming can try out his new bike and gear. His focus now is on getting better so he can be physically able to return to school.