Her name is Wang Yeu. She was 2 years old when she died on October 21, 2011 - one week after being struck down in a double hit-and-run in Foshan City, China.
Wang Yeu was a typical 2 year old - curious, fearless, and asserting her independence when, on October 14th, she slipped out of her parents house unnoticed after her older brother had gone out to play. What follows is my description of security camera footage subsequently uploaded to YouTube. While I would not recommend that you watch this video yourself, you may wish to if you feel the need to verify that these events took place as described.
The camera captures Wang Yeu as she wanders about on the market street adjacent to her family home. She seems a little overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the market as she looks about herself, trying to take it all in.
In the background, perhaps fifty yards away, a delivery van appears.
The van pauses at the entrance to the street and then lunges forward, directly toward the toddler as she looks back over her shoulder at something, oblivious to any danger. With the van only a few feet away, Wang Yeu suddenly takes notice - but it's too late. Outlined against the black grill, her little arms raised in an attempt to protect herself, Wang Yeu is struck down, disappearing under the van as the right front wheel rolls over her.
The van comes to a sudden halt. A tragic accident has occurred - yet hope remains. Wong Yeu lies on the road, arms still raised in self-defense for a few seconds before collapsing to her sides as she passes out. Her body lies half concealed underneath the van in the space between the front wheel and the back wheel.
And then, a few seconds later, the van begins to move again.
For a moment I could not comprehend what I was witnessing. And then my blood ran cold as the truth began to sink in. The van is not stopping! I thought, "Oh God! Please! No!"
The rear wheel of the van makes a few timid attempts to climb over Wong Yeu's broken body before finally gaining enough traction, crushing her a second time as it rolls over her, flipping her onto her left side. The wheel leaves a bloody tire track on the pavement.
Wong Yeu lies on her side in the street - broken, bleeding, and unconscious. Here is a quote from the driver of the van - a man named Hu Jun.
"When I realized I had knocked her down I thought I would stop to check on her and see how she was. Then, when I saw she was already bleeding, I decided to step on the gas and get out of there - since there was no one around me."
And later, after being asked if he realized that the child might die:
"If she dies, I pay only 20,000 yuan (about $3000). But if she lives, I could pay hundreds of thousands of Yuan in medical bills."
A few moments after Jun's despicable act of brutality, a pedestrian appears. He glances down at the injured child at his feet....and keeps on walking.
A second pedestrian appears, glances at the dying two year old lying on the street, and continues on his way.
This scene is repeated no fewer than 18 times (18 times!) over the next 10 minutes. At some point during this hellish ordeal, Wong Yeu regains consciousness and can be seen moving her arms and head. According to one of the pedestrians that passed her by, she was also crying.
A two year old child lying in the street bleeding, crying, and moving her arms and head. Yet she was ignored by 18 different people as they walked by.
Another quote, this time from one of the passers-by:
"She was not my child. Why should I bother to help?"
At this point you may wish to pause and ask yourself, "Should I be giving money to a country such as this?"
A second delivery van appears at the entrance to the street, pauses, and continues forward.
I am frozen solid in my chair.
Wang Yeu suddenly raises both arms above her head as the second van runs over her legs. A heartbreaking gesture of self defense from a child unable to comprehend what is happening to her or why, but just wanting it to stop.
Wang Yeu remains conscious, occasionally moving her arms and head, her cries growing weaker.
An old woman appears. She is carrying a sack over her shoulder. She see's Wong Yeu, puts down the sack, glances around hesitantly, and then goes to the child. Wong Yeu turns her head and looks at the old woman. The woman tries to help Wong Yeu sit up - a well-meaning but futile gesture. Wong Yeu, weakened by loss of blood and half paralyzed, falls forward, almost lifeless, onto the street. The woman drags her off to the side of the road and begins asking for help for the child. She is told to mind her own business.
Moments later, Wong Yeu's mother appears, panicked. She runs to her daughter, picks her up, and runs off camera, searching for an ambulance.
The video feed ends.
I cannot move. I cannot speak. I cannot think. I have swallowed lethal poison and I am dead.
The tears came two days later, after I had finally come to terms with the unspeakable cruelty and indifference I had witnessed. Tears of impotent rage. Tears of a sadness so deep it felt like it would consume me. Tears of regret. Tears of guilt and shame for every thing I ever bought with 'Made In China' on the label.
I cried for her again, 7 days later on October 21st. That was the day she died.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may Perpetual Light shine upon her.
May her soul and souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of Almighty God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Goodbye, little one.