4-year-old girl dies after dad’s car rear-ended by alleged drunken driver

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - A 4-year-old girl from Arizona died in her parents’ arms at the hospital the day after she was critically injured in a car crash involving an alleged drunken driver.

Lily Moster, 4, is being remembered as a ray of sunshine. Her tragic and sudden death in a multi-vehicle crash has left behind a giant hole in the hearts of everyone who knew her, Arizona’s Family reports.

“She’s a treasure to the family. She’s just a sweet little spitfire,” said Lily’s grandfather, Dan Smith.

Smith says the whole family is having a hard time coming to grips with the loss of the 4-year-old.

“Dad feels guilt for no reason at all. It’s not his blame, but they’re struggling,” Smith said. “Just slowly settling in when Momma comes home from the hospital the first time and Lily’s not there, that was a heartbreaking moment.”

Lily’s father, Daniel Moster, was driving the little girl and her 6-year-old brother, Luke, back home from swim lessons Wednesday, according to Smith. The two children were in the back seat in car seats.

Queen Creek officials say Moster was stopped at a stop sign around 11:30 a.m. when his minivan was rear-ended by a driver in a black Jeep Wrangler going almost 60 mph. Video from the scene showed severe damage to the back of the minivan.

“Dad says that he was initially dizzy and disoriented. When he recognized his surroundings, he quickly went to get the kids out of the car. A passerby actually got to the kids first, cut seatbelts and got Lily’s brother out. Lily was unconscious,” Smith said.

Lily’s brother and father were not seriously hurt in the crash, but the 4-year-old was flown to the hospital in critical condition. She died Thursday night in her parents’ arms.

“It was the sweetest thing. They removed all the equipment, so Mom and Dad could really hold her like a baby. They wept and hugged her when she passed,” Smith said.

The grandfather says Lily and her brother were best friends.

“They were very close. She idolized her brother,” Smith said. “When her brother’s favorite color became red, suddenly, her favorite color was red.”

The Mosters say they’re grateful for the strangers who stepped in to help at the scene. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with Lily’s medical bills and, now, funeral arrangements.

“She’s going to be sorely missed, but she’ll live with us in our hearts,” Smith said. “They’re really clinging to Luke because he’s what they have left.”

Investigators have identified the driver of the Jeep Wrangler as 33-year-old Jason Sanchez. They say he did not attempt to brake before the crash and was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.111, which is nearly 1.5 times the legal limit.

According to court documents, Sanchez allegedly admitted to having three or four beers at San Tan Mountain Casino, which was where he was driving home from.

Sanchez was booked into the Pinal County Jail on the day of the crash on charges of aggravated assault and driving under the influence. Since Lily did not survive, he now also faces a second-degree murder charge.

The bond for Sanchez was set at $100,000.