A 9-year-old girl, named Laila, was seriously injured early Monday when an SUV crashed into her bedroom in Center Line, Michigan, while she was sleeping. The vehicle broke through the house on MacArthur Boulevard near O'Hare Street around 2:54 a.m., throwing the girl from her bed and out a window into the yard. According to The Detroit News, the child sustained multiple injuries, including three spinal injuries, a fractured nose, and a laceration to her liver.
In what nearly missed causing another tragedy, the Center Line police reported that the driver of the SUV missed hitting a baby sleeping in an adjacent crib by just four feet, as fleeing on foot immediately after the crash. ClickOnDetroit states Laila is now in stable condition with injuries to her spine, pelvis, and ribs. Relatives have started a GoFundMe campaign to support her recovery, which has been verified for its legitimacy by a spokesperson for the platform.
Laila's family, facing her long recovery and therapy, has turned to GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden as the mother of the injured girl, who also has a toddler at home, is expected to be out of work for an extended period. As reported by The Detroit News, the family says, "So, anything that helps reduce her stress during this traumatic experience is greatly appreciated."
The 20-year-old driver of the SUV, who had initially run away from the crash site, was apprehended a short distance away and is currently held in the Macomb County Jail. While the specific charges are pending, toxicology results to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor are still awaited. Meanwhile, the community is left shaken with neighbors like Mellissa Caliguire expressing concern to CBS Detroit, saying, "It's very sad because that little girl is probably going to be traumatized for the rest of her life every time she goes to sleep."
No further information regarding the crash or the ongoing investigation has been released by the Center Line police at this time, though they did report that the driver was located after at least one neighbor chased her, as per a statement obtained through ClickOnDetroit.
