A 21-year-old woman hit by a car while directing traffic at a Hall County high school is no longer in critical condition, but her family said she has a long road of rehabilitation and recovery ahead, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Lauren Parr, who had worked at North Hall High School as a crossing guard for about two weeks, was hit Sept. 18 because a driver was on his phone, the Georgia State Patrol said in an incident report.
She was thrown about 12 to 15 feet onto the road because of the impact, the report said.
“The doctors are very encouraged by her progress,” Hall County School District spokesman Gordon Higgins told Channel 2.
Despite being on the job for less than a month, Higgins said students had grown attached to her, and the incident was “traumatic” to those who witnessed it.
“Her main job was to help students and staff to get out here onto Mount Vernon Road,” Higgins said. “(Students) say their interaction was mostly hand waves and smiles, and that in just two weeks was enough to get them to care about her.”
Lanier Dudley, 50, of Talmo, was allegedly distracted by his cellphone while driving his Chevrolet Silverado south on Mount Vernon Road, the GSP report said.
RELATED: School crossing guard hit while directing traffic; driver allegedly using phone
Despite Parr wearing her reflective vest and gloves and signaling for Dudley to stop so cars could exit the school, he is accused of not stopping and hitting a student’s Jeep, which spun into Parr, injuring her.
“When the cars impacted, one of the cars was pushed into her and caused her to be propelled down the pavement,” Higgins said. “The student that was involved did nothing wrong.”
Higgins said the school has collected gifts for Parr, and the principal delivered them to the hospital, the news station reported.
“They were just so appreciative of that level of support,” Higgins said.
Dudley was scheduled to be booked into the Hall County Detention Center on Wednesday on numerous charges, including reckless driving and violation of the Hands Free Law.
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