Local News

'It's not going to make sense in this fallen world,' grandmother says of Dunn girl's death

The tragic death of a 10-year-old girl hit by a suspected drunk driver in Dunn is drawing her already tight family even closer.

Posted Updated

By
Bryan Mims
, WRAL reporter
DUNN, N.C. — The tragic death of a 10-year-old girl hit by a suspected drunk driver in Dunn is drawing her already tight family even closer.
Danay Sierra Allen was trying to retrieve her dog, Apollo, which had run off, when she was hit by a speeding car Monday night, police said.

"It's not going to make sense in this fallen world. We know that," Jean Moore, Danay's grandmother, said Wednesday.

Apollo had been with Danay since Easter last year.

"She loved that dog. They did everything together," said Deanna Fraticelli, Danay's aunt.

So, when the Shar-pei ran down Spring Branch Road on Monday – a year to the day after Danay had gotten him – she took off in pursuit.

Her mother and brother jumped in the car to help out. Danay almost crossed the road, but her brother yelled for her to go back to the car because a neighbor had corralled Apollo.

She was hit as she walked around the car to get in.

"If the dog ran out five minutes earlier, she'd still be here. If that man turned somewhere else, she'd still be here. But she's gone," Fraticelli said. "When God wants to call you home, he'll call you home, because how it happened is just insane."

Moore and Fraticelli said Monday had been a good day, with Danay and her cousins playing soccer and jumping on a trampoline.

"She loved playing with all her cousins," Moore said. "They all were the best of friends, all the time."

The family had a hard time breaking the news of Danay's death to the children, Moore said.

"'They didn't know how to tell the children because Danay was the one that cuddled with all the babies," she said. "They know that she's in Jesus' arms now."

Ronald Alphonso Fox

Ronald Alphonso Fox, 67, was charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving and felony death by vehicle in Danay's death.

Police said Fox was speeding on Jackson Road and ran up on the sidewalk and across a dirt lot before hitting her and then her mother's car.

"I know his family's hurting. We're praying for them. That's all I want to say for them," Moore said.

Danay's mother, Denise Allen, blacked out when she saw her daughter get hit, causing he to fall and hit her head. Her family said she remains in the hospital.

A GoFundMe account to help the family with medical and funeral expenses had raised nearly $20,000 by Wednesday evening.

Doreen Moore, another aunt, said she told Danay she loved her when she saw her Monday, "but I didn't give her a hug."

"You just never know," she added.

"I can't believe that was the last time I saw her," Fraticelli said. "Now, we're going to be a lot more intentional about letting everyone know how much we love them."

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.