Miguel Tully was doing what many fathers do on a routine outing—taking his 5-year-old son to buy Pokemon cards at a Target in Colorado Springs, Colorado. What should have been an ordinary trip turned into a violent encounter that left the disabled Army veteran hospitalized and his young child traumatized, authorities said.
Background
Tully told local ABC affiliate KRDO that he witnessed Christine Eisenstaedt, 71, involved in a separate car crash in the Target parking lot. When he approached her vehicle to tell her she could not leave the scene of that accident, Tully said Eisenstaedt instead drove directly at him and his son.
In video captured by Tully on his cellphone—which has since gone viral across social media platforms—Eisenstaedt can be seen behind the wheel of a red Hyundai Ioniq as Tully repeatedly warns her not to drive toward them. "You're not leaving," Tully says in the footage. "Don't come this way. Don't hit me, I have my child here."
The father positioned himself between his son and the approaching vehicle, shielding the boy from the alleged assault. Tully's young son can be heard crying out as his father took the brunt of what authorities describe as a deliberate blow from Eisenstaedt's car.
The Investigation
Colorado Springs police have issued an arrest warrant for Eisenstaedt. She faces charges of assault, child abuse, reckless endangerment, and careless driving, according to KRDO. Officers were actively searching for her as of Thursday.
Tully sustained a leg injury in the incident and was transported to a hospital for treatment. He told KRDO that the impact aggravated existing service-related injuries to his knee, back, spine, and neck—conditions he said stem from his military service.
Key Takeaways
- Miguel Tully, a disabled U.S. Army veteran, was struck by Christine Eisenstaedt's vehicle while shielding his 5-year-old son in a Target parking lot
- A warrant has been issued for Eisenstaedt's arrest on charges of assault, child abuse, reckless endangerment, and careless driving
- Tully captured the incident on video after witnessing Eisenstaedt involved in another crash at the same location
- The 5-year-old boy sustained emotional trauma and now fears every red car he sees, according to his father
What's Next
Police continue their search for Eisenstaedt. No court dates have been set as she remains at large. Tully told KRDO his family faces a long road ahead addressing the psychological impact on his son, who has begun referring to other vehicles as "the bad lady" whenever he spots a red car.