GREENSBURG – An 8-year-old girl is recovering after being struck by a pickup truck and her family says her courageous actions may have saved her uncle’s life.
According to the Greensburg Daily News, a van driven by Mary Tichenor, 52, of Rushville, lost power to the brakes and rolled through a stop sign at the Washington and Ireland Street intersection Tuesday afternoon.
Tichenor was unable to stop and struck a Chevy Pickup truck operated by Daniel Tempest, 56, of Greensburg.
The impact forced the pickup onto the sidewalk on Ireland Street where Gwyneth Blair, 8, of Greensburg, and her uncle Hershel Blair, 26, were walking.
Hershel has a shunt in his head and any head trauma could likely turn fatal, the newspaper reported.
Gwyneth pushed her uncle out of harm’s way before being struck by the oncoming vehicle. The young girl was life lined to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for treatment of a broken arm and abrasions.
We spoke with Gwyneth’s mother, Christina Franklin, after the family returned home from the hospital Thursday afternoon.
“She’s always been pretty brave and strong. I just feel like, honestly, she’s a brave little girl,” Franklin said. “I don’t know what you call a hero honestly. Heroes come in all shapes and forms. She is definitely her uncle’s hero today.”
“I just feel God has a bigger plan for her. If this is any indication of what she going to be like when she grows older I feel God has something really big planned for her.”
Neither driver was cited in relation to the accident however, Tempest was cited for driving while suspended, according to the newspaper.
