PITTSBURG, Calif. (Knight Ridder) — Neighbors and relatives of a 2-year-girl run over in the street here pulled the 19-year-old driver from her car and beat her, according to police.

Susan Mullens, in a Dodge Neon, hit the girl Thursday evening. She drove 20 to 30 feet before realizing what she had done, said police Lt. William Zbacnik. Mullens told police she didn't see the child because the sun was in her eyes.

"She said she felt her car hit something, but didn't see that it was a child until she looked in her rearview mirror," Zbacnik said. "Before she was able to exit the vehicle, several neighbors and family members of the girl pulled her out of the car by her hair."

The little girl was airlifted to Children's Hospital Oakland with a collapsed lung, broken ribs, abrasions and possibly a lacerated liver. She was in serious but stable condition Friday.

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Four or five people surrounded Mullens and began kicking and punching her, Zbacnik said.

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