GoFundMe Fundraiser Benefits Young Victim of Owatonna Hit & Run

Owatonna, MN (KROC-AM News) -A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to assist the family of a young child who was severely injured by a hit and run driver earlier this week.

The incident occurred on Tuesday in Owatonna and led to the arrest of a 36-year-old Owatonna man. Scott Pfeifer was formally charged Thursday with a felony count of criminal vehicular operation and other charges for allegedly striking 2-year-old Anastasia Westphall as she was being carried across a street by a family friend. The charges allege Pfeifer did not stop and later went to a carwash to clean his pickup truck.

Following the incident, Owatonna police indicated the injured child was airlifted to Rochester with severe injuries. The GoFundMe website indicated she was admitted to the Mayo Clinic intensive care unit and is still in the hospital, where she continues to improve every day.

The organizer of the online fundraiser states, "We are in our by her strength. It's not much of a surprise, as she has always been strong, brave, sassy, and happy as can be!"

The GoFundMe site says Anastasia suffered a broken pelvis, a fractured skull, severe concussion, a lacerated liver, and other injuries. It goes on to say that her broken pelvis will require her to be immobile for at least a month.

It is expected that she will need many months of continued care and therapy and her parents, Aileen and Dylan, will be traveling often between Rochester and Owatonna for her appointments. The organizers are hoping to raise money to help the family with their growing expenses associated with Anastasia's injuries.