An 8-year-old Georgia girl was crossing the street to catch her school bus when she was struck and killed by a car in front of her horrified mother – who said she had forgiven the driver.
Adalynn Pierce was walking across a two-lane road in Henry County Thursday to board a bus, which had flashing red lights and a stop sign activated, when 25-year-old Kaylee Andre, driving a Ford Fusion, tried to pass the bus and cut the girl off, the Georgia State Patrol said.
Adalynn, a student at Rock Springs Elementary School, was transported to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, where she died of her injuries the next day.
The victim’s mother, Ashley Pierce, who was there when her daughter was hit, told station 11Alive that she has forgiven the driver.
Adalynn Pierce, 8, was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street to catch her school bus. Family Circulation A school bus was stopped in Henry County, Georgia, with red lights flashing and its stop sign activated (file photo). AP
“When the accident happened, [Andre] stay by my side all the time,” said the grieving mother. “He was the one who called me 911, and he kept yelling how sorry he was.”
Pierce added that what happened Thursday was “a mistake.”
“Anyone can make the same mistake,” he said.
Driver Kaylee Andre, 25, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide, failure to stop to unload a school bus and failure to exercise due care. Henry County Jailer Adalynn’s mother was present when Andre’s Ford Fusion killed her son on Thursday. WANF
Troopers arrested Andre on Saturday and charged him with vehicular homicide, failure to stop to unload a school bus, failure to keep watch and obstructing the view of the driver.
Asked what happened, Andre told the trooper that his window was “foggy” and he couldn’t see.
“I couldn’t see, I didn’t see the school bus with its lights flashing or the little girl,” according to the arrest warrant cited by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Residents living near the scene told the news outlet that Andre’s windshield appeared to be partially iced over, so his view was obstructed.
The youngster was taken to a hospital in Atlanta and died of his injuries the next day. Family Distribution
The driver made his initial court appearance Monday and was held on $20,000 bail.
Pierce said her daughter had a kind and loving spirit, which inspired her to raise funds for children fighting cancer.
“That’s his character in general,” said the Georgian mother. “His heart goes out to the whole world. If he knows that there is a need out there, it makes his soul very happy to pray for them.”
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Even in death, Adelyn, who is an organ donor, will help others. Doctors told his mother that her rare blood type would make a difference in the lives of more than 70 children who had waited years for a miracle.
“Every life he saves, this is a legacy that will live on for generations,” Pierce said. “And this is how we keep a part of Adalynn alive.
The 8-year-old is an organ donor, and thanks to his rare blood type, more than 70 children will get a new lease of life. Family Distribution
Meanwhile, a family member has launched a petition on Change.org calling on lawmakers to pass “Addy’s Law” that would prevent children from crossing the street when boarding a school bus.
“While this may not bring Addy back, this may save a life so no other family has to go through this again,” wrote the author of the online petition, Alexa Wright.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
