Love of animals costs teen her life
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Lindsey Collom
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 23, 2003 12:00 AM


It was just like 15-year-old Jassmine Hardge to run to the aid of an animal.

She wanted to be a veterinarian. So it was no surprise when Jassmine ran into the roadway near 35th Street and McDowell Road to retrieve an injured dog.

That love of animals cost the teen her life when she was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Friday.

The driver, Reyna Salgado, 25, later turned herself in to Phoenix Police and was booked into Madison Street Jail for hit and run with death or injury. She was released Saturday without bail.

Jassmine, a high school sophomore, and two friends were walking to a movie theater when a pup belonging to one of the girls jetted into oncoming traffic. The dog was run over twice and died at the scene.

Jassmine's father, Larry Ray Hardge Sr., said Saturday that he understood why she would want to save the animal. He knew from the way she cared for the family pet, which recently gave birth to 12 puppies.

"She was a giving and wonderful daughter," he said.

Family and friends gathered at Maricopa Medical Center shortly after the 6:30 p.m. accident to say goodbye to the teenager.

The tragedy has been especially difficult for the Hardge family, who lost a 20-year-old son to complications of sickle cell anemia in 1999.

Hardge said losing two of four children is "just devastating."

"You don't think your children will go before you," he said. "Right now, we're just taking it one step at a time."



Reach the reporter at lindsey.collom@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-7983.


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