A Schuylkill Haven High teenager was seriously hurt Friday night when she was struck by an SUV while crossing a street near her home in the borough.
Alayna Casella, 13, who is an eighth-grader at Schuylkill Haven High School, suffered a brain contusion and multiple other injuries but should recover fully, according to her mother, Angel Casella.
On Saturday, the girl remained in the ICU at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, where she was flown by helicopter after the accident, her mother said.
But Alayna's condition is stable, and she is expected to be transferred to the pediatric unit, her mother said.
The accident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Haven streets, Schuylkill Haven Police said.
Alayna was crossing East Main Street when she was struck by the SUV, which was heading east on East Main Street, police said.
The driver's name was not provided by police, and the investigation into the accident continues, police said.
Alayna plays on the eighth-grade basketball team and was walking home from attending the girls varsity and junior varsity basketball games at the high school when she was hit, Angel said. She was crossing the street to reach her house, which is located right at the intersection and about a block from the school, Angel said.
The teen suffered a brain contusion, a lacerated liver, broken collarbone and a bruised lung, her mom said. Her left eye also required multiple stitches, and she has lots of bumps and bruises.
Though recovery may take months, Alayna never lost consciousness and should be fine after she recuperates, Angel said.
"She's a very tough girl," she said.
Though Angel does not typically post on social media, she said that she wanted to get accurate information out to those who were concerned about her daughter, so she therefore made the details public.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined by investigators, but Angel wanted to use the moment to urge drivers to slow down and pay attention in the borough, and particularly on her street, where students frequently walk before and after school and where numerous other pedestrians have been hit, she said.
The basketball game that Alayna attended also included a ceremony recognizing the 40th anniversary of the 1985 Schuylkill Haven High School girls basketball team winning the state championship and was one of three big events being held at the school Friday night. The others were a formal dance for seventh- and eighth-graders, and a performance of "The Nutcracker."
Angel suggested that on such busy evenings traffic control officers could be stationed near the school.
Angel was getting home from Christmas shopping when she got a call from her family that Alayna was struck, but her husband, John, was home, and they both got to talk to their daughter before she was taken from the scene. Despite Alayna's injuries it was comforting to speak with her and know that she was conscious and coherent, said Angel, who works as a certified pediatric nurse.
The family wanted to thank all of the people who helped at the scene, she said.
"The first responders were amazing, and even the bystanders who tended to her before help arrived," Angel said. "We've had so many offers of help from friends, teachers, guidance counselors, neighbors and the like.
"I'm sure Alayna will be back after the Christmas break ready for the new year. She sends her love to all her friends, teachers and administrators."
On Saturday morning the school district sent a text alert to its families.
"We understand in addition to students concerned for those involved, some students may have witnessed this event and could be experiencing a wide array of emotions and anxiety," the message read.
To support students and the community during this time, the district said, counselors were available for several hours at the middle school on Saturday, and those students who needed to talk to someone were encouraged to reach out.