Ja'mya Love, 2, was initially transported to Comer Children's Hospital in "extremely" critical condition around 6:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 7 a.m.
Ja'mya's great grandmother was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said. Her condition was "not serious, but she's emotionally distraught," police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.The driver of the car was being questioned as detectives continued to investigate the cause of the crash, Mirabelli said.
"She died in my arms. There was nothing I could do," said Pamela Thompson, victim's great grandmother. "He just came out of nowhere."
Thompson was taking the toddler to day care. She was pushing the stroller with Ja'mya and was holding her hand as they crossed the street. That's when Thompson says she saw a 1999 Chrysler Concorde, heading northbound, come right at them after blowing through a stop sign.
"She was all folded over... full of blood," Thompson said.
After striking the child, witnesses say the car's 27-year-old driver kept going -- hitting some construction barricades before slamming into two parked vehicles, including a pickup truck.
Investigators are looking into whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
"That's our life's joy... it's hard. She's gone," said Margaret Harris, victim's grandmother.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
