8-year-old girl struck and killed while boarding school bus — as mom forgives driver
An 8-year-old Georgia girl was crossing the street to board her school bus when she was struck and killed by a car in front of her horrified mother — who incredibly says she has forgiven the driver.
Adalynn Pierce was walking across a two-lane street in Henry County Thursday to get on the bus, which had its red lights flashing and its stop sign activated, when 25-year-old Kaylee Andre, driving a Ford Fusion, tried to pass the bus and mowed down the girl, Georgia State Patrol said.
Adalynn, a student at Rock Springs Elementary School, was airlifted to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, where she died from her injuries the next day.
The victim’s mom, Ashley Pierce, who was there when her daughter was mowed down, told the station 11Alive that she has forgiven the driver.
“When the accident happened, [Andre] stayed by my side the whole time,” the grieving mom said. “She’s the one who called 911 for me, and she just kept screaming how sorry she was.”
Pierce added that what happened Thursday was a “mistake.”
“Anyone could have made the same mistake,” she said.
Troopers arrested Andre Saturday and charged her with homicide by vehicle, failure to stop for a school bus loading and unloading, failure to exercise due care and obstruction of driver’s view.
Asked what happened, Andre told troopers that her windows were “fogged up” and she could not see.
“I couldn’t see, I didn’t see the school bus flashing lights nor the little girl,” according to an arrest warrant cited by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Residents living near the scene of the accident told the news outlet that Andre’s windshield appeared to be partially iced over, so her view was obstructed.
The driver made her initial court appearance Monday and had her bail set at $20,000.
Pierce said her daughter had a kind and caring spirit, which inspired her to collect donations for kids battling cancer.
“That was her character in general,” the Georgia mom said. “Her heart feels for the whole world. If she knows that there is a need out there, it makes her soul so happy to pray for them.”
Even in death, Adelyn, who was an organ donor, will be helping others. Doctors told her mom that her rare blood type will make a difference in the lives of more than 70 children who have been waiting years for a miracle.
“Every life she saves, this is a legacy that will live on for generations,” Pierce said. “And it’s a way that we are keeping part of Adalynn alive.”
Meanwhile, a family member has launched a petition on Change.org calling on lawmakers to pass “Addy’s Law” that would stop children from crossing the road when getting on the school bus.
“Though this cannot bring Addy back, this can save lives so no other family shall go through this again,” wrote the author of the online petition, Alexa Wright.
