11-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck by Car in Harvey

An 11-year-old girl was killed by a car in south suburban Harvey Saturday while on her way to celebrate passing the fifth grade with her mother, authorities and family said.

Aniyah Baisten, 11, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:29 p.m. after she was struck by a car in the 15200 block of South Wood Street, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The girl was crossing the street with her mother and sister while on their way out to eat for a celebratory dinner when she was hit by a speeding car, according to her mother Kwandra Baisten.

“We looked both ways and we didn’t see no cars,” Kwandra Baisten said. “[The driver] was flying.”

The 29-year-old driver of the vehicle was reportedly issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, having an expired driver’s license and having no insurance, police said. Police were not releasing the driver’s identity.

Neighbors who saw the accident said the street is dangerous.

"Pass a law for that 35 miles to be lowered," said neighbor Erika Wells. "They don't do 35 coming up through here, they probably do 65 to 70. They flies up and down this street."

Kwandra Baisten said her daughter was loving and always wanted to help her mother.

“She would walk me to the bus stop when I would go to work,” she said. “She told me ‘Mom, I’m never going to leave you. When I get older I’m going to buy you a car.”

Kwandra Baisten said funeral services have not been officially arranged yet for the young girl.

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