Three elementary school girls die when van is struck by semi in Kansas, officials say
Three young girls were killed when the van they were in was struck by a semi on the Kansas Turnpike, authorities said.
State troopers were called to the fatal crash in Shawnee County, near Topeka, at about 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, according to the crash report.
Highway patrol identified the victims as Laila El Azari, 9, Kylie Lund, 9, and Brooklyn Peery, 8. Loved ones provided a different spelling for Laila’s last name, using El Azri.
The driver had a “possible injury,” authorities said. Another 9-year-old female passenger had a “suspected minor injury,” and a 5-year-old boy was found with a “suspected serious injury.” The surviving occupants were all taken to a hospital.
Investigators said the van was southbound when it “went to turn through the barrier wall.” The van was then hit by a southbound semitruck.
“Laila was on a day out with her Girl Scout troop,” a loved one raising money for her family said in a GoFundMe. “What was going to be a fun day turned to tragedy.”
Mother Tiffany Capri Lunn said her daughter, Kylie, spent nearly every day playing with Laila.
“She was my everything and I was her everything and my heart is just broken right now,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “ ... I just don’t know where to go from here she was my purpose she was my everything I’m just lost without her.”
Amber Peery described her daughter, “Brookie,” as someone with “a heart of gold that loved everyone and everything.” She was a big sister to two siblings.
“I honestly don’t know how I’m going to keep going without you, but I know I have to and everything I do will be with a purpose for you,” her mother wrote. “I don’t understand why the universe decided it was your time, but I know you’re dancing above us and watching over us everyday. Mommy loves you so much sweet girl and all I want is to be able to hold you in my arms again.”
Auburn-Washburn Unified School District confirmed the three children were elementary school students within the district. One of the girls was a third grader at Jay Shideler Elementary School, and the others were fourth graders at Farley Elementary School.
The district is providing counseling and support to students and staff “as long as needed.”
The driver of the semi, from Alabama, did not report any injuries.
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Three elementary school girls die when van is struck by semi in Kansas, officials say."