Cathedral City girl fighting for her life

Yary Alfaro of Cathedral City is fighting for her life. Police said the 14-year-old girl was walking home when she was hit by a car at the corner of Date Palm Drive and Victoria Road in Cathedral City on Aug. 31.

Ana Alfaro, Yary’s sister, said the teenager texted her for a ride just minutes before the crash, after she and her boyfriend, Jose, left the Cinemark Movies 10 theater.

Yary’s boyfriend pushed the crosswalk button at the intersection’s signal light, but Yary didn’t wait and started walking, according to the Cathedral City Police Dept. It was dark out and a driver heading north on Date Palm had a green light and struck the girl in the middle of the road.

“My heart just broke into pieces because I just talked to my sister,” said Ana Alfaro.

Police said the driver stopped and cooperated and isn’t being charged in the crash.

Weeks later, Yary, a sophomore and honor student at Cathedral City High School, is still in a coma at Loma Linda University Medical Center suffering from a broken leg, spinal injury and head trauma.

To help the family with medical bills, Frankie’s Old World Italian Bakery in Cathedral City, where Yari’s mom works, is collecting donations.

“Our hearts go out to her family and her. They’re a very close family and they need as much help as they can get,” said the bakery owner Frankie Mamone.

Friends, loved ones and classmates are hosting a car wash Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Wienerschnitzel, 68785 Ramon Rd, Cathedral City.

To donate online, go to www.gofundme.com/e3a2k8