Injured Girl’s Condition Improves
MOORPARK — A Moorpark girl who nearly died after she ran into the side of a moving truck last week was awake and moved out of the intensive care unit Monday evening, hospital officials said.
Nikki Atkins, 10, was airlifted to Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles on Friday night after sustaining a skull fracture when she darted into traffic and hit the side of the passing truck.
Sheriff’s officials said the girl’s parents had just purchased ice cream from a truck parked near the corner of Butter Creek Road and Poppyglen Court when she unexpectedly ran into the street.
She was taken first to Simi Valley Hospital, but was transferred to Childrens Hospital because of its extensive pediatric unit.
Steve Rutledge, a spokesman for the Los Angeles hospital, said doctors upgraded the girl’s condition Monday to fair and stable and moved her out of intensive care at about 6 p.m. He said it’s unknown how long she will remain at the hospital.
“She is awake and alert and she recognizes people,” Rutledge said. “She is breathing on her own and she is doing much better.”
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