Now that school is back in session, parents are busy trying to get their children there on time. It’s an adjustment for everyone and unfortunately, there are rare occasions when it results in tragedy.
This took place when a young girl was getting out of the car while being dropped off by her mother at Booker Middle School in Sarasota, Florida. After getting out of the car, she dropped her backpack and when she bent over to pick things up, her mother ran over her.
This wasn’t intentional, of course, because the girl had bent over and went out of the line of vision for the mother. The mother didn’t realize that her daughter was there and when she moved the SUV, she ran over her and injured her severely.
The unnamed girl has been airlifted to a hospital in the area and she is currently in serious condition. This is a lesson for all parents, as you should be extra cautious, especially when dealing with traffic and children.
It happened at 745 on August 12. The little girl got out of the car, dropped her backpack and some supplies fell out. While she was picking up her supplies, the mother didn’t see her and ran over her with her Lincoln Navigator SUV.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kenn Watson, as soon as the mother heard her daughter’s cries, she stopped the car.
Watson went on to say: “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.”
The girl is currently in critical condition after being lifted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
The school, as well as the community, has been shaken by this accident. Principal Lashawn Frost gave the news to parents, saying: “This serves as a reminder of the importance of following our established safety procedures.
“Please remember that students should not be dropped off in the middle of Myrtle Street. This practice poses a significant risk to our students’ safety and the safety of others on the road. We kindly ask that all parents and guardians follow the designated drop-off procedures by using the parent loop. This ensures that students enter the school safely and helps us maintain a secure environment for everyone.”