Cranbury Police Give Puppy To Girl Whose Dog Was Killed By Car

CRANBURY, NJ — Earlier in May, we told you about a devastating incident that happened to a Cranbury family: On May 10, the family's oldest child, their 13-year-old daughter Mia, was out walking their dog when she and the puppy were hit by a car on Main Street. Panda, the dog, was killed on impact and the young teen was seriously injured. The driver fled the scene and has not been found since.

The girl's father, Andrew Huang, has been relentless about trying to find the hit-and-run driver, including contacting local media like Patch, as have Cranbury police. But no arrests have been made in the case yet.

However, on the Monday before July 4, Mia and her three younger siblings were given an incredible surprise from the Cranbury Police Department: A new puppy.

"Today we are going to present this lovely dog to a resident that was recently struck by a vehicle on our town, and her dog unfortunately passed away in that incident," said Officer Michael Cipriano of the Cranbury police.

Cranbury Police Lodge FOP #68 banded together to raise the money to buy the dog.

"We tried to keep it a surprise but couldn't completely," Andrew told Patch. "They named her Bamboo. Sometimes ... when the police show up at your door, it's for a good or even great reason! Thank you so much everyone."

Huang produced this video of the presentation on Monday.

The hit and run happened just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10 on South Main Street, near Evans Drive in the town of Cranbury. Mia was knocked unconscious from the hit. She suffered a concussion and left lung contusion. She could not move for days after it happened, her father told Patch, and she still can't play soccer. In a tragic twist of fate, it was actually the dog that absorbed most of the impact from the car, and likely saved Mia's life, eyewitnesses said. People nearby who witnessed the crash hugged the dog and comforted Panda as she died at the scene. The driver never stopped to render aid; he just sped off, witnesses said.

Police are seeking a white male with a beard driving a 2007 - 2009 champagne Ford Expedition, possibly with silver trim.

Past Patch reporting: Cranbury Dad Releases Video To Find Hit-and-Run Driver That Hit Daughter, Killed Dog