16-YO Volleyball Player Loses Both Her Legs After Getting Hit by Speeding Car | “An Unthinkable Situation”

A gifted teenage athlete was hit by a car while visiting St. Louis for a volleyball tournament, resulting in both her legs having to be amputated. The 16-year-old girl was critically injured on February 18 when a 2023 Audi Q5 allegedly ran through a yield sign at 11th and St. Charles, according to a statement from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, reported PEOPLE.

The Mid-TN Volleyball Club identified the teen victim as Janae Edmondson of Smyrna, Tennessee. She was walking back to her St. Louis hotel with her family on February 18 night when she was hit by the car and critically injured, according to Jeff Wismer, the assistant director at Middle Tennessee Volleyball Club. Edmondson played for their '18 Blue' team and had just committed to playing volleyball in college, reported KKTV.

Wismer added that Edmondson had to have both legs amputated after the crash, according to CBS affiliate KMOV. “A wonderful kid with a great smile, a three-sport athlete,” Wismer said. “She has lost both limbs below her waist, so for us, how do you find words to explain our sorrow? We really can’t,” he added.

"Her life has changed, and we are going to need people to love her and support her and support that family as they evolve and we are just so thankful that she's with us," he told the outlet.

Edmondson was hit by the car around 8:40 p.m. on February 18. According to St. Louis Police, the gray Audi ran a yield sign at the intersection and hit a Chevy Malibu. The Malibu went airborne and hit Edmondson, pinning her between it and a parked car, as per KKTV.

"We have frustration. We have anger over any responsible act, a missed sign, or whatever was a causation of this,” Wismer said. He further described Edmondson as a teen with so much promise ahead of her. 

“The road in front of Janae is tough. There’s going to be a lot of challenges ahead, financial challenges, emotional challenges,” Wismer said. “We’re hoping that our community can embrace this family as she goes through this unique time in her life that you can never imagine. This is an unthinkable situation that she has to encounter right now,” he added.

A GoFundMe account has been created to help her family with medical expenses. More than $75,000 has already been raised.

A community group called Citizens for a Greater Downtown St. Louis shared footage of the crash on Twitter, which shows the Audi speeding down the roadway. Edmondson was immediately taken to a nearby hospital with her parents at her side, according to Mid TN VBC's statement. Her condition has stabilized, though her injuries are "serious."

In these difficult times, the Mid-TN VCB is asking the community "to pray for Janae, her family, and her teammates." They said, "The whole club loves Janae and values her athletic gifts, toughness, determination, and perseverance," per PEOPLE.

Police said the driver was allegedly 21-year-old Daniel Riley, who has been arrested. Riley has been charged with multiple counts of assault and one count of operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license, according to the statement.

An investigation into the crash that injured Edmondson is ongoing, as per police.

References:

https://people.com/human-interest/teen-has-legs-amputated-hit-by-car-while-attending-volleyball-tournament-st-louis/

https://www.midtnvbc.com/

https://www.kmov.com/2023/02/20/teenager-visiting-st-louis-volleyball-tournament-hit-by-car-while-walking-hotel/

https://www.kktv.com/2023/02/21/teen-volleyball-player-loses-both-legs-after-getting-hit-by-car/

https://twitter.com/Citizens4STL/status/1627425634984263681

Cover Image Source: GoFundMe