17-year-old’s legs amputated after crash while in Missouri for volleyball tournament
CORRECTION:
Janae Edmondson’s age and the spelling of her last name were incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
The corrected story is below.
A teenager from Tennessee suffered serious injuries after being struck by a car while she was in Missouri for a volleyball tournament, her team said.
Janae Edmondson was walking back to her St. Louis hotel with her family when a driver ran through a yield sign, according to the Mid TN Volleyball Club. The driver’s car crashed into a separate car, which then struck Janae, the team said.
The 17-year-old was hospitalized and her legs were amputated, Jeff Wismer, the assistant director of the volleyball club, told WKYC and KMOV.
The volleyball club called the incident an “unthinkable accident.”
“Words can’t describe the sadness that our community has,” Wismer told WKYC. “I think we have words to describe our anger honestly, and we think that’s healthy feelings that we have. A sense of loss for Janae and her family right now. We’re so thankful and blessed that she is alive and that may be the starting point for us is that we are thankful that she’s here.”
Janae is a senior at Smyra High School about 25 miles southeast of Nashville, according to the Daily News Journal. She is considered a “standout” athlete for her school’s volleyball and basketball teams, the news outlet said.
Her club volleyball team said Janae is known for her “athletic gifts, toughness, determination and perseverance.”
“If anyone can overcome this, I know it’s you Janae,” said her former coach, Jay Umboh. “You always wanted to play with the older girls on your big sister’s team and you made it happen. You are a fighter and my hope is that you will find another outlet for your competitive spirit.”
Driver is arrested
The 21-year-old driver accused of causing the crash was out of jail on bond following an armed robbery in St. Louis City in 2020, according to KMOV.
He did not have a license and had violated his bond conditions by not wearing a GPS monitoring device, KSDK reported.
Police say he was driving 45 mph — 20 above the speed limit — when he struck the vehicle, which pinned Janae against a parked car, KMOV reported.
Jail records show he was charged with multiple counts of assault, as well as armed criminal action and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 11:10 AM with the headline "17-year-old’s legs amputated after crash while in Missouri for volleyball tournament."