A quick grocery run in Venice turned into a nightmare for 38-year-old father Jordan Stannard, who says he lost part of his left leg after hurling his 2-year-old daughter into the family car to get her out of the path of an oncoming pickup truck. He absorbed the impact himself and later underwent surgery that removed part of his leg below the knee, while his daughter Sadie escaped without serious injury. Stannard, who also has a newborn daughter at home, is now in rehabilitation and facing months of recovery.
How the crash unfolded
According to Atlanta News First, which credited KABC, the crash happened as the family was loading their car after leaving a grocery store at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Abbot Kinney Boulevard. A pickup truck came barreling toward them, and Stannard was hit as he moved to shield his child. The little girl was not harmed.
A father's instinct
Stannard told ABC7 Los Angeles, "I literally just threw her into the car." He said his left foot "looked like my foot was pretty much blown off," and doctors later amputated part of his leg below the knee. The injury has abruptly upended what he described as a once active life, as a marathon runner now spending much of his time in rehab.
Recovery and fundraising
His family has launched a GoFundMe to help pay for rehabilitation and a prosthetic foot, according to Atlanta News First. Stannard told ABC7 Los Angeles that he now spends most days in bed while rehabbing and that his goal is to run in next year's Los Angeles Marathon. Neighbors and first responders are among those the family has thanked as donations and messages of support have come in.
Street safety in L.A.
The crash is unfolding against a broader backdrop of dangerous streets in Los Angeles. LAist reported that traffic collisions killed 290 people in the city in 2025, more than 150 of them pedestrians. As part of its Vision Zero efforts, the city has moved to expand automated enforcement, approving a pilot program to install 125 speed cameras earlier this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Stannard says he does not regret his decision to shield his daughter, and his family is focused on getting him the care and prosthetic support he needs. Donations and messages have continued to arrive as he works to rebuild his mobility and holds onto the hope of being back on his feet for the marathon next year.
