A tragic incident occurred at a school drop-off in Florida when a mother accidentally struck her 12-year-old daughter with her vehicle, critically injuring her, according to officials.
The accident happened around 7:45 a.m. on Monday as the mother was dropping off her daughter near a Sarasota middle school for the first day of school, the Florida Highway Patrol and the school district reported.
The girl was exiting the SUV on the passenger side when she accidentally dropped her markers and pens, according to the highway patrol.
As the 12-year-old bent down to retrieve her school supplies from under the vehicle, her mother began to drive forward, and the SUV’s wheels struck the girl, the highway patrol said.
She was airlifted to a hospital with critical injuries, authorities said. Her condition on Tuesday was not immediately available.
Read More: Black Bear Attacks 3-Year-Old Girl at Montana Campground
Sarasota County Schools released a statement urging all families to follow district and school safety protocols by using the designated student pickup and drop-off areas on school campuses.
