Candlelight Vigil Planned for Toddler Struck by Van

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A candlelight vigil is planned Wednesday evening at the site of a fatal accident that killed a two-year-old and broke both of her grandmother’s legs.

Friends of the family say Dynesti Maraj and her grandmother were struck by a van Satuday afternoon in Bowie while walking in a crosswalk at Laurel-Bowie Road and Old Chapel Road. They were heading to a CVS while the child’s father was having the oil changed in his vehicle, WUSA reports.

Authorities say the vehicle that hit the pair was turning left from Old Chapel Road onto Laurel-Bowie Road. Both Dynesti and her grandmother were taken to a hospital. The girl was pronounced dead and her grandmother is in serious condition, the TV station says.

An online fundraiser has been set up by a friend of Dynesti’s father, Mark Maraj, to help with funeral expenses. The GoFundMe site had $4,390 donated Monday morning.

The fundraising site says that friends will gather with Mark Maraj at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at the intersection of Route 197 and Old Chapel Road for a candlelight vigil to commemorate Dynesti’s life.

The driver remained on the scene, WUSA reports. The investigation into the accident continues.

»Photo of Dynesti and Mark Maraj, from Facebook