‘It hurts’: Father of girl scalded in road rage incident wants apology
The father of a sevenyear-old girl who suffered burns to her face after a man threw green tea on her wants those involved in the traumatizing road rage incident to come forward.
“It’s really tough, certain questions. I’ll give you one question she asked to her grandfather the other day: ‘Am I not beautiful anymore?’” said Fahim Mirza.
“It was very heart-wrenching, and I hope it never happens to anyone again … every day, when you look at your child’s face and you see those marks, it hurts.”
Police say the attack happened Aug. 15 at about 11:45 p.m., when Mirza was driving home with his family. While driving eastbound on 39th Avenue N.E., a car allegedly sped through a red light at 36th Street N.E., entering the path of Mirza’s car.
Mirza said both cars stopped and he exchanged some heated words with a man in his 60s who exited the passenger seat of the suspect car. After the argument, Mirza said a man in his 20s exited the back of the car and threw a green tea into Mirza’s car, hitting his daughter, who sustained second-degree burns to the left side of her face and torso. The car reportedly then drove away.
“Something hot came on me as well, but I didn’t realize because it was all on her,” he said, adding that his son in the car was also traumatized by the experience. “It’s really hard for the whole family.”
Mirza’s daughter is expected to make a full recovery from her burns, but it has affected her.
“Sometimes she’ll just wake up crying,” he said. “It’s an impact that stays with her, every day. It’s very hard.”
Police are appealing to the public for help with the case. They believe the suspect vehicle to be a silver, four-door Toyota Camry, but have been unable to identify any of the three men who were in the vehicle.
“This is not something that I think any of us want in any of our communities,” said Calgary Police Service acting Staff Sgt. Lon Brewster. “We need information to further this investigation, which is why we’re reaching out to Calgarians again today.”
Brewster declined to speculate on what charges the men could face if found, saying a full investigation into the incident would take place.
Mirza said he doesn’t understand why the men from the car haven’t come forward after likely learning about the injuries to his daughter in the media.
“How can you see and hear everything and not feel guilty about it?” he said. “Just come out and apologize. You don’t have the guts to face this seven-year-old girl?
“In the heat of the moment, a decision was made out of anger. We understand that, but now it’s time to tell your story and stand up and face your consequences.”
Anyone with information about the incident can call the CPS non-emergency line at 403-2661234. Tips can also be left anonymously through Crime Stoppers.