DAVIE, Fla. – Nine-year-old Ming Lin was in pain Saturday. A witness told police officers that a distracted driver on her phone was to blame for his suffering. Ming's mom, Lin Bilin, said he could have been killed.
Ming was riding his bicycle on the wet sidewalk Wednesday morning. He was on his way to Davie Elementary School when he fell off. He was trying to get back up when he was trapped under a moving 2002 Chevrolet Suburban.
Michele Achon, 30, was behind the wheel of the SUV. She told police officers that she was driving away from the Lil' Rascals Academy at 6500 SW 39 St., in Davie when her SUV shook after she hit "like a bump."
"She is so lucky. I am lucky that I can see my son," Bilin said. "He is a lucky boy."
According to Davie police officers a witness saw Achon using her phone and thought she was calling 911, but when Achon didn't stop she followed her until she stopped at a red light. In her multitasking failure, she had dragged Ming, his backpack and his bicycle for about 450 feet without noticing, police said.
Achon stopped in horror. She said she never saw Ming or his bicycle. Another witness had a car jack and rushed to rescue him. His forearm and left hand were the only parts of his body that weren't trapped under Achon's SUV.
Davie police officers said Ming was wearing a helmet and that decision likely saved him from a head injury. Paramedics rushed him to Memorial Regional Hospital. Bilin said two of his teeth were knocked out and he suffered severe road rash to his back, shoulder and leg.
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Local 10 News' Melissa Alonso, Andrea Torres and Amanda Batchelor contributed to this report.