12-Year-Old Girl Hit by Mom During School Drop-Off in ‘Stable’ Condition, Authorities Report
The girl was hit by her mother by chance on August 12 after she left glue and pens next to her car.
The Florida 12-year-old girl who was seriously hurt when her mom ran over her on the first day of school is now in stable condition.
The news was revealed by Senior Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper Kenneth Watson to PEOPLE after the accident, which happened near Booker Middle School in Sarasota at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, August 12.
As of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital said that the 12-year-old victim was now considered “Stable.” Watson told PEOPLE this on Tuesday, August 13.
“There have been no changes to the crash report today,” Watson said.
Based on an FHP release, PEOPLE said that the girl was hit by her mother’s car after being dropped off in the right turn lane on Myrtle Street.
The student had dropped some markers and pens on the ground when she got out of the passenger side of the car, according to the police. As she started to drive off, her mother did not notice what her daughter was doing.
Watson told ABC station WFTS-TV in the past that she “immediately stopped” when she “heard her child screaming.”
According to the FHP’s first statement, the child was airlifted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg with serious injuries.
A representative for Sarasota County Schools told PEOPLE in the past, “The school district encourages all families to follow district and school safety protocols and use the designated student pickup and drop-off areas on school campuses.”
LaShawn Frost, the director of Booker Middle School, told families in a message that the crash “serves as a reminder of how important it is to follow our established safety procedures.”
Frost asked, “Please remember that kids shouldn’t be dropped off in the middle of Myrtle Street.” “This practice puts the safety of our students and everyone else on the road at great risk.”
The principal also said, “We kindly ask that all parents and guardians use the parent loop to follow the marked drop-off procedures.” This helps keep the school safe for everyone and makes sure that students can get in easily.
Watson had told the news source and Fox 13 in the past, “Here we are, day one, and we’ve already had a tragedy.”
“We’re hoping this does not happen again, but we have to remember to have that good spatial awareness when you are anywhere around a school zone and most certainly when you are letting your kid out of your vehicle,” he said.
WFTS-TV reported that Watson said, “You don’t want to be in a hurry and drop off our kids in the turn lane when we should be right in front of the school.” “This is a tragedy that one hundred percent could have been avoided by simply paying a little more attention and not being in a hurry.”