A 13-year-old girl was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after being run over by a pickup truck, Cocke County Sheriff's Office reported. The accident occurred Thursday morning at a home on Holly Court Road in Cosby, TN.
According to WVLT, responding deputies found the truck, a Ford F-150, parked on top of the teenager, identified by her initials A.B. The grandparents of the victim were present during the incident, as well as two minors who were inside the vehicle when the accident took place. As the truck was backing up, the grandfather realized it had gone too far, starting to go over an embankment, prompting all occupants to exit the vehicle.
The girl, while attempting to disembark, was struck by the rear left passenger door which knocked her to the ground. The vehicle proceeded to run over her legs and abdomen. A.B. tried to get out of the truck when the "back left passenger door knocked her down onto the ground and the front left tire ran over (her) legs and abdomen," as stated in the police report obtained by WBIR.
The incident called for an emergency response from the Cosby Fire Department who worked on the scene to free the girl and set up a landing zone at Cosby High School for air transportation. Local officials have praised the first responders for their swift action. Sheriff C.J. Ball expressed gratitude for the quick response and mentioned, "Pray for a speedy recovery," in a statement to WVLT. A tow company subsequently removed the truck from the embankment, and it was reported to be drivable following the incident.
Further details regarding the victim's condition were not immediately available during initial reports. However, the teen was conscious and talking to first responders upon their arrival, according to a report by WATE. The community has been waiting for an update on her well-being as she receives medical attention at the hospital. The family of A.B. and local community members are likely to be in a state of heightened concern as they await further news on the teenager's condition.
