Nationwide — Kiara Darvonne Bowling, a 31-year-old African American woman from Oakland, California, remains hospitalized with serious brain injuries after a car driven by two young brothers struck her. Her family says she faces a long recovery but holds no ill will toward the children.
Bowling was walking her friend’s emotional support dog, Grizzly, around 9:15 a.m. Thursday, near 35th and Mangels avenues in East Oakland, when the crash happened.
Surveillance video showed Bowling stepping off the curb when a white Toyota Camry sideswiped another vehicle and veered toward her. The Camry was being driven by two brothers, ages 6 and 4, and struck Bowling off-camera.
The crash left Bowling with multiple brain bleeds and facial fractures. Her sister, Christina Blackmon, said Bowling remains at Highland Hospital in Oakland and is “currently still fighting extremely hard for her life.”
Grizzly was also injured and ran away after the crash. Someone later found the dog and took him to a veterinarian for treatment.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the 6-year-old apparently found the keys to the family Toyota Camry in his father’s pockets while his parents were sleeping. The boy then woke his 4-year-old brother and used a kitchen chair to unlatch the front door. The two brothers got into the Camry, which their father uses to drive for Uber.
Police have not indicated that the children will face criminal charges. California law generally presumes that children under 12 cannot form criminal intent, but legal analyst Michael Cardoza said the parents could still face legal scrutiny. Cardoza said possible consequences could include child neglect charges and civil liability.
Despite Bowling’s severe injuries, her family said it does not blame the children. Blackmon said the family has “no ill will” toward the brothers. She added, “We all know children do not know how to operate a vehicle.”
Bowling’s aunt, Karon Markham, also said, “I don’t hold any animosity. When you have young children, you should always be present, because young children are going to try anything and everything. What they see you do, they’re gonna try.”
Before the crash, Bowling had been pursuing several personal and academic achievements. She was crowned Ms. Greater Bay Area at the California Regency International Pageant last year and is now completing her final semester at California State University, East Bay in Hayward. She also recently completed an online pre-law program through Harvard Law School.
As Bowling continues her recovery, her family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her medical expenses.
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Source: BlackNews.com
