DOUGLAS COUNTY, Kan. — Authorities with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office say a 17-year-old Lawrence girl was injured after trying to help a turtle off the road Thursday, June 19. Police have identified her as Mersadie L. Walker, and say she remains in critical condition.
Lieutenant Steve Lewis with the sheriff’s office said Walker was a passenger and got out of the car and was hit by a woman driving southbound in the 900 block of E. 1900 Road.
She was airlifted from the scene and taken to Overland Park Regional with critical injuries. The driver of the car that hit her is a 36-year-old woman who was arrested for reportedly driving on a suspended license and no valid proof of insurance.
FOX 4’s Robert Townsend spoke with a woman who lives close to where the accident happened and she talked about having a heavy heart on Friday.
“It’s a shame, she was trying to do a good deed,” Cathy Johnson said.
Johnson said she can’t stop thinking about Walker, even though she’s never met her.
“It’s just sad, she was a quarter of a mile down the road,” Johnson said. “I had seen the turtle on the road when I came home, but I didn’t stop and get them because there was traffic behind me and traffic coming towards me.”
Now Johnson can only hope Walker makes a full recovery.
“It’s heartbreaking and my heart goes out to the family. She was just doing a good deed, something that my children have done,” she said.
The driver of the car who hit Walker has bonded out of jail and will make a court appearance in July.
On Friday afternoon the victim’s parents, Grady and Nancy Walker, issued the following statement:
“Our 17 -year-old daughter was critically injured on Thursday after being
hit by a car in Lawrence, Kansas. She was doing something children often
do ~ being kind and compassionate to an animal, which is her nature. She
remains in critical condition in ICU at Overland Park Regional Medical
Center, but we are grateful that she is continuing to improve.
“We would like to sincerely thank our friends, family and the community
for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. We
feel your prayers and support and could not get through this without you
all.
“As she continues her recovery, we ask for privacy so we can focus on
helping her get through this long road to healing.”
