A Fourth of July celebration in Vallejo, California, ended in a severe accident when a 20-year-old woman was critically injured after being thrown from a car her boyfriend was allegedly driving erratically. The woman, identified by friends as Alexis “Lexi” Hardheart, was a passenger in a vehicle as the driver, identified by friends as her boyfriend Alejandro Rodriguez Zetina, performed high-speed "donuts" in a parking lot.
Witnesses reported that Hardheart fell from the moving vehicle during the stunt. Video footage captured the moment the black car accelerated towards her after she fell, striking her. Authorities stated that the driver did not stop to render aid but allegedly drove over her again before fleeing the scene.
Vallejo police located and arrested Zetina hours after the incident. He faces charges including reckless driving and hit-and-run. Hardheart sustained severe injuries, including a shattered pelvis and two broken legs. Doctors have inserted a metal rod in one of her legs, and she is expected to require multiple surgeries.
Friends of Hardheart described the incident as terrifying. One friend noted that while being hit might have been an accident, leaving her injured in the parking lot was not. Hardheart had been preparing to start cosmetology school. Her family has stated that the accident has profoundly impacted their lives, and doctors have expressed concern about her long-term mobility, suggesting she would be fortunate to walk again.
Hardheart's mother has taken time off work to care for her daughter as she recovers from her initial major surgery. A fundraiser has been established to support her ongoing medical treatment and recovery.