After one of their moms tried a U-turn on a busy highway and was struck by a vehicle, three young girl scouts from Kentucky perished in a horrific automobile accident.
Amber Peery performed a U-turn on I-335 through a barrier wall as Kylie Lunn, 9, Laila El Azri, 9, and Brooklyn Peery, 8, all of Topeka, were traveling there to attend a Girl Scout event on Saturday morning, according to Kansas police.
The three girls were killed when Robert Hosey Russell, 70, was driving a semi-tractor trailer vehicle that instantly collided with their automobile.
With very minor injuries, Amber was brought to the hospital along with her 5-year-old son Carrington and another girl scout named Gabriella Ponomarez. Russell wasn’t hurt in the collision.
I honestly don’t know how I’m going to keep living without you, but I know I have to, and everything I do will be with a purpose for you, Amber said on Facebook as she shared her sadness at the loss of her daughter.
All your mother wants is to be able to hug you in her arms once again because she loves you so much, darling daughter.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that the collision occurred on I-335 close to SW 69th Street just after 9 a.m.
The emergency U-turn hole beside the barrier wall where Amber’s vehicle was struck is routinely used, according to residents who spoke to WIBW 13.
Tiffany Lunn, who was also grieving for her daughter, said that Kylie was great friends with another victim, Laila. They both attended Farley Elementary School and were in the fourth grade.
Tiffany said on Facebook, “She was my everything and I was her everything and my heart is simply devastated right now.” “I really don’t know where to go from here; she was my reason for being; she was everything to me; without her, I am lost.”
Laila’s GoFundMe campaign was created by friends and relatives to assist her family in covering the expense of her funeral.
The website said, “Laila went gone for the day with her Girl Scout unit.” What was supposed to be a joyful day ended up being tragic.
On Sunday, the children’s favorite park was transformed into a memorial for the two girls by the families’ neighbors.
In addition to confirming the girls’ deaths, the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri expressed their sorrow for the young lives that were lost.
CEO Joy Wheeler issued a statement saying, “Our hearts are shattered for the girls and family of Troop 5567 from Topeka, Kansas, who tragically lost three Girl Scouts in a vehicle accident on Saturday.” Additionally, the other Girl Scouts engaged in the accident and the critically injured Girl Scout in the hospital are in our prayers.
As we support one another in the aftermath of this horrible loss, Wheeler said, “Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri mourn with the families, friends, and loved ones of Brooklyn, Laila, and Kylie.”
“We will commemorate the lives of our three Girl Scout sisters and are helping the families and troop through this difficult time,” the group said.