More than a year later: Daughter still unable to walk, talk after being hit at crosswalk
Emmie Zwack was hit by a car while crossing the street on New Year's Eve in 2021. More than a year later, her parents are pushing for changes that will prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to someone else.
Posted — UpdatedEmmie Zwack was critically injured on New Year's Eve in 2021 when a 69-year-old woman hit her and Emmie's best friend, Lila Ashdown, at a crosswalk on Estes Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
"The car on the side of the street stopped and waved them on," said Lynn Zwack, Emmie's mother. "They were coming across the street and the other driver did not see them in time."
Since that accident, her parents have had to adjust to a new reality. Their teen daughter once had a vibrant smile, but now she can no longer talk or walk.
"It's just been a learning curve having someone here a lot and being dependent on somebody else to take care of your child," Lynn said.
Police charged Norma Martin with failure to yield to pedestrian in a clearly marked crosswalk.
Her family said this tragedy emphasizes the need for safety initiatives.
"I'm glad they're doing something," said Paul Zwack, Emmie's father. "It's also what everybody can do, and that is being more aware, be more conscious [when] driving."
As for Ashdown, her family said she was released from the hospital and still comes around to visit her best friend, Emmie.
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