Girl, 12, Hit & Killed By Vehicle, Father Charged With DUI
STANTON HEIGHTS (KDKA) - A 12-year-old girl was killed after being run over by her own father this weekend.
Shamera Harris, of East Liberty, had just gone on her very first date earlier in the evening. She went to the movies with a young man who lived on Schenley Manor Drive in Stanton Heights. Her parents were dropping the boy off when the accident happened.
According to police, Shamera had gotten out of the SUV to take some pictures with her date. Her father was getting out of the SUV to take the photos when the SUV began to drift backward.
Shamera was hit and dragged 50-60 feet down a hill before being run over. The SUV came to a stop when it hit a tree on the other side of the street.
Harris' mother and brother were in the SUV at the time, but were unable to stop it.
Her mother attempted CPR, but was unable to revive her.
Police say the girl's father, 53-year-old Richard Benton, was visibly intoxicated.
He refused a breathalyzer at the scene.
Benton was taken into custody and charged with DUI.
Police are now investigating whether the brakes on his SUV may have given out.
Shamera Harris was a 6th grader at Pittsburgh Obama Academy.
The school is closed today because of a power outage, but will have student assistance program providers available to students when they return to class tomorrow.
Pittsburgh Public Schools released a statement saying:
"New to the school this year, Shamera's teachers describe her as a quiet, pleasant young lady, who always followed the rules in every one of her classrooms."
The grandmother of the young man who had gone on a date with Harris last night tells KDKA he is very upset about the crash, but chose to attend school today.
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