Teen killed by alleged drunk driver had beaten cancer as a child
As a second-grader, Bobbie Grayson battled and beat leukemia. This week, the 16-year-old high school junior was struck by a drunk driver and killed while she walked in North Las Vegas, police said.
Dozens of friends and relatives gathered to remember Grayson on Wednesday evening near the site where a car hit her.
Police say the driver, whom they identified as 28-year-old Anthony Lauria, left Grayson to die in the street after striking her early Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, more than 100 people held a vigil on North 5th Street near Lone Mountain Road, placing teddy bears, flowers, green balloons and candles beside a rock.
Many of those present had donned Green Bay Packers jerseys and other gear in honor of the teen's favorite team. A "Cheesehead," headgear worn by fans of the football team during games that resembles a large triangle of cheese, sat high atop the rock.
Demond Martin, a family friend who related Grayson's fight with leukemia, said his parents were close to hers. Martin's younger sister was best friends with Grayson, he said, and Martin often baby-sat the two girls.
"She brought smiles to everyone," Martin said of Grayson, who went to Canyon Springs High School.
Lauria, who was arrested Tuesday, faces charges of felony driving under the influence resulting in death, felony duty to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death and failure to maintain travel lane.
Police said Lauria was heading northbound on North 5th Street, just south of Lone Mountain Road, when he veered out of his lane and hit Grayson at 12:20 p.m. She was headed northbound, police said, walking in the gutter against the sidewalk, when he slammed into her back.
The driver of the car, while under the influence of alcohol, fled in the black Ford Fusion, said officer Aaron Patty, North Las Vegas police spokesman. The girl died at the scene.
Not far from the scene, the driver abandoned the car and ran, police said. Officers quickly found the car and arrested Lauria without incident.
Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV. Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead.
