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Account set up to help 10-year-old struck by truck
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Nikka Perez, 10, is pictured in her hospital bed at U.C. Davis in Sacramento where she was flown by helicopter after she was run down last week in an East Yosemite Avenue crosswalk. Family members said her right leg was shattered below the knee and a skin graft was required to surgically replace missing tissue. - photo by Photo courtesy of the Perez family

Nikka Perez, the 10-year-old Lincoln School sixth grader run down by a hit and run driver last week, is resting in the U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento following surgery to repair her badly injured right leg.

A bank account to help with the family medical expenses has been set up at the Oak Valley Community Bank in the girl’s name.

Andrew Gubanov, 29, of Manteca — the driver of the pickup truck that allegedly struck the girl at 6:20 p.m. last Tuesday — has been released on his own recognizance after his first court appearance in Stockton.  He was initially held on $500,000 bail that, according to the Sheriff’s website, was elevated to a no bail status prior to his release.

Nikka was foot pedaling on her bicycle with her 24-year-old cousin Alejandro when they were both struck in the cross walk.  He later discovered he had a broken bone in his foot a day after his cousin was airlifted by helicopter to the Sacramento trauma center.

Alejandro said he tried to grab Nikka before they were hit.  He said he waved his arms in the air when he felt the pickup truck was not going to stop, but to no avail, yelling at another driver to follow the truck.

Because that motorist called 911 on his cell phone, police were able to intercept the hit and run driver farther west on Yosemite Avenue near Union Road. They detained him  for questioning and then for felony hit and run as well as for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license.

Those wishing to donate to Nikka’s medical account may contact Oak Valley Community Bank located on North Main Street at North Street.