A suspect has been charged in a hit-and-run crash in Fitchburg that left a 22-year-old mother seriously hurt earlier this week.
Fitchburg Police said the suspect, 42-year-old Alvin J. Gaston of Ayer, is charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident after the crash near 1115 Water St. on Monday night.
Surveillance footage shared with NBC10 Boston shows the moment before Dayao was struck. But it's what happens afterwards that upsets her father, Jose Gonzalez, the most.
"They got out of the car and looked at her and then ran," he said. "[He] just left her there to die like an animal."
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Dayao is now recovering in the hospital, barely able to move, said Gonzalez.
"They did reconstructive surgery on her face, because all her face has broken bones, a broken leg, a broken arm, [and] multiple other fractures," he said.
Gonzalez was told it may take up to a couple of years before Dayao can walk again.
Gonzalez explained that Dayao has a young son who is devastated by what happened. The family is leaning on the community for support.
"We've gotten a lot of phone calls, and it just hurts to see your own child out there treated like nothing," said Gonzalez. "And when you have people calling you trying to reassure you that things will be OK, it's helpful."
Police said Gaston will be summonsed to court at a later date.
