19 Children Injured after SUV Crash into Anderson Preschool
ANDERSON, Calif. (March 7, 2022) — Nineteen children were injured Thursday after an SUV crashed into the Great Adventures Christian Preschool at Balls Ferry Road and Martha Street in Anderson, roughly 10 miles south of Redding.
Two suffered serious injuries, but most were treated at the hospital for precautionary measures. Authorities note that all are expected to survive their injuries from the collision, according to the Anderson Police Department.
The collision happened around 2:26 p.m. on Thursday, March 3rd, police said.
Police say Courtney Dearman, 20, of Anderson, was driving a blue Suzuki Grand Vitara crashed into the preschool building due to unknown circumstances. The vehicle left a massive hole in the side of the white, brick building and wound up in the middle of a classroom. The Anderson police and fire departments responded to the scene within two minutes of the crash, according to a statement by police. The preschool was filled with nineteen children and two adults at the time of the crash.
Children Hospitalized after Anderson Crash
Emergency responders declared the situation at Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) due to the number of people hurt in the crash. They requested police from other cities, as well as fire and paramedics, to respond to the scene.
Paramedics transported 14 children with various levels of injuries by ambulances to the hospital. Also, parents used their own vehicles to take five of the children to hospital emergency rooms.
Additionally, two children were later transferred by helicopter to the intensive care unit at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. One of those children was briefly trapped underneath the SUV after the crash, police said.
Other children went to several different hospitals with most taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Shasta Regional Medical Center and at least three were treated in the emergency room at Saint Elizabeth’s Community Hospital in Red Bluff and released.
The Great Adventures Christina Preschool was boarded up and closed following the incident. Also, it will require major structural repairs due to the severity of the collision.
Meanwhile, an Anderson Police Department Drug Recognition Expert assessed the driver following the crash. The speed limit in the area is 35 miles per hour. Authorities confirmed drugs and or alcohol are not factors. Also, the woman and her passenger both cooperated with authorities. It’s unknown if any adults were injured in the crash. Courtney Dearman is not charged with any crime at this time.
Investigators continue to work on the case. Witnesses may contact SHASCOM dispatch at (530) 245-6526 or by emailing the Detectives Division at [email protected].
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Furthermore, Johnson Attorneys Group does not intend to represent any of the parties discussed. However, if you would like to contribute any information or have legal questions, please contact us as soon as possible. Finally, our law firm is a longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
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