In a harrowing incident on a Lake City roadside, a 9-year-old girl was severely injured after being struck by a car while on her way to board a school bus, News 6 reported. The mother of the child, Tiara Thomas, watched in horror as her daughter, Aubrielle, was flung approximately 50 feet into the air after being hit. Aubrielle was subsequently transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver involved in the collision was a 19-year-old, who was unharmed in the incident. According to WTSP, following the accident, it was the quick action of the girl's bus driver who performed CPR, that, in the desperate words of Aubrielle's mother "had to perform CPR to bring her back to life," as per Thomas's wrenching statement on a GoFundMe page set up to cover her daughter's medical costs.
The young girl's injuries are devastating; with her left ankle shattered and vital bones broken. Furthermore, she suffered a severe head wound requiring surgery to mend. Thomas shared the extent of her daughter's trauma in her plea for support, noting that Aubrielle "has sustained LIFE CHANGING injuries," including a potential foot amputation due to severe arterial damage, as mentioned on WTSP. The extent of damage has placed Aubrielle in ICU for an intense 72-hour stint post-surgery.
The community's response has centered around the GoFundMe initiative, established to aid the family as they face a lengthy recovery period that precludes both mother and daughter from returning to their regular routines of work, and school. Aubrielle's predicament has ignited conversations about pedestrian safety in the region, with her mother asserting to WIFR, "It just isn’t right. My daughter has sustained life-changing injuries."
The local authorities have yet to provide an update on any ensuing legal actions against the driver or traffic safety measures to be implemented to prevent similar tragedies.