AROUND THE SHIELD – The 5-year-old girl who was in critical condition and in a coma after an accident involving the son of Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is now awake, the family said on Monday in a brief online post. .
Ariel Young, who was one of two children hospitalized when former Chiefs ‘assistant Britt Reid’s car collided with their families’ vehicles on February 4, was woken up on Monday, according to a short post on the GoFundMe page * of the family organized by Ariel’s aunt. The other girl, a 4-year-old cousin of Young’s, was hospitalized with serious injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Kansas City police said.
The post, which has raised more than $ 500,000 since February 6, simply said “Ariel is awake.” A previous post thanked the supporters and collaborators who donated to the family in their time of need, adding that the family wants to print some of the thousands of messages they received to show Ariel “when she is older”.
“While she is awake, she is not the same happy, free-spirited little girl she was before this horrible accident,” wrote Tiffany Verhulst, who opened the account, on Tuesday afternoon. “She has a long way to recover and things that were easy for her will no longer be.
“We are so happy that she is awake, but so sad at the price that it took from her body and brain. We are grateful for the continued support and love for her now. No family or child should go through this.”
Kansas City police said the accident occurred near Arrowhead Stadium when Britt Reid’s truck crashed into two vehicles near a highway entrance ramp. The collision injured the two girls and Reid, who underwent surgery due to several injuries confirmed but not detailed by staff.
Andy Reid said the day after the Chiefs’ loss in the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that his son was recovering from surgery after the accident. Britt Reid did not travel with the team to Tampa Bay for the NFL championship game.
“My heart goes out to everyone involved in the accident, particularly the family of the girl who is fighting for her life,” said the former BYU striker after his team’s 9-9 defeat. “It’s a difficult situation. I can’t comment on that anymore … but from a human point of view, my heart bleeds for everyone involved in it.”
Britt Reid, 35, was placed on administrative leave after the accident, and when his contract expired after the season, the Chiefs did not renew him, according to ESPN.
Police said Reid told investigators he drank “two or three drinks” and also a prescription for Adderall the night of the accident, according to a Kansas City police statement. No charges have been filed against the now former technical assistant, and an investigation into Reid’s disability remains ongoing.
Reid has been with the Chiefs organization since his father was hired as the franchise’s head coach in 2013, most recently serving as coach of external linebackers. A Temple graduate who spent three seasons as an undergraduate assistant in his alma mater, Reid was also a defensive line coach, defensive line assistant coach and defensive quality control assistant, was still listed on the Kansas City coach list in the morning Tuesday.
Contributing: Associated Press
* KSL.com does not guarantee that the money deposited in the account will be applied to the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering making a deposit into the account, consult your own consultants and proceed at your own risk.