SARASOTA, FL – A frightening scene unfolded on the first day of school in Sarasota, Florida, when a mother accidentally ran over her 12-year-old daughter with her car. The incident critically wounded the young student, according to local authorities.
The horrifying accident took place at approximately 7:45 a.m. on Monday near the girl’s middle school during morning drop-off.
The Florida Highway Patrol and school district officials report that the girl was getting out of her mother’s SUV on the passenger side when she dropped her pens and markers. In an attempt to retrieve her school supplies from under the car, the girl bent down, unbeknownst to her mother. The mom had already begun to move the vehicle, striking the girl underneath with the wheels of the SUV.
The 12-year-old girl was rapidly airlifted to a hospital because of the severity of her injuries. As of Tuesday, no update on her condition was available.
Commenting on the calamity, Sarasota County Schools urged parents to heed safety precautions. “The school district encourages all families to follow district & school safety protocols and use the designated student pick-up and drop-off areas on school campuses,” stated the district in a release.