"The other children were transported to the hospital in critical condition, but are expected to survive and are making progress," the woman's mother said.
On her way to visit their family in Gainesville, a mom of four has lost her life along with her three-year-old daughter. Her other three children who were also in the accident survived and were hospitalized with critical injuries.
According to First Coast News, Angela Sippel, 40, was driving with her children in Bradford County, Fla., when their car crashed on March 4th. "On Saturday, March 4th, the four Sippel children Niyah (10), Joslyn (7), Jude (5), and Eden (3) were traveling with their mother Angela to visit family in Gainesville," Susan Goodrich, Angela's mother, wrote on a GoFundMe page, created to raise money for hospital, medical, and burial expenses
PRAYERS: 🙏 “It just feels like a bad dream, like a movie, like something you read in a book like you don’t ever expect to happen so close to home," said a family member. https://t.co/NGmIwoLFp0
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) March 7, 2023
"Around 10:45 they were involved in a devastating accident which killed Angela and Eden," Goodrich continued. "The other children were transported to the hospital in critical condition, but are expected to survive and are making progress." Although police initially said the woman was wearing a seatbelt and the children were not, they have since "determined that the adult female was also NOT wearing a seatbelt."
"All five occupants were ejected from the vehicle at various times during the crash," an FHP spokesperson told PEOPLE. Molly Sippel, the children's aunt, told First Coast News they have no idea what caused Angela to veer off the road. "My heart just breaks. It's hard to even think about what they are all going through," she told the outlet. "It just feels like a bad dream." Speaking with Jacksonville station WJXT, Goodrich said that Joslyn, "has a broken ankle and some lacerations" while Jude, 5, broke his orbital bone.
News4JAX learned the names of the victims in Saturday’s single-vehicle crash in Bradford County that left a 3-year-old and an adult killed and three other children seriously injured. https://t.co/TeCbPFgax7
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) March 6, 2023
The children's aunt told First Coast News that Niyah broke her legs and right arm due to the crash. There have been several updates on the GoFundMe page, which has raised over $80,000 as of March 8th, the family shared that Niyah, who has already undergone several surgeries, "has a very long road ahead of her," but is making "gradual improvements."
The family said it expects to meet with doctors soon to "discuss possible discharge dates" for the younger children. "It's a miracle they have survived the crash and made it this far. We are humbled by the outpouring of love and support for this young family," read a statement from the Sippel and Goodrich families. In a separate update, the families thanked first responders for everything done at the scene to provide the children with the "best chance of a full recovery."
As of March 9th, the family added another update, "Niyah is recovering from (hopefully her final) surgery on her right arm. Joslyn and Jude continue to improve. We took both to the playroom in the Pediatric unit today. Joslyn enjoyed watching the fish aquarium and Jude liked the toy power tools. No further news yet on the possible discharge timeline. Thanks to everyone for continuing to pray, support, and root for these kids."
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/mom-driving-kids-visit-family-dies-crash-alongside-daughter/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/sippel-family-car-accident?qid=ea5a3f0b25fec6a5377440891ec55511
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
