ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An 8-year-old girl and her grandmother were paralyzed, and a mother was injured in a south St. Louis County crash.
According to the St. Louis County Police Department, the crash happened around 3 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the intersection of Telegraph and Olde Post roads.
Officers found 8-year-old Gracie Crawford, her mother Taryn Rose and grandmother Barb Fleming with injuries in one of the vehicles involved. All were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Police said the other driver was a 16-year-old girl, who had non-life threatening injuries and remained on scene.
According to a GoFundMe for the family, it said, "Their vehicle was struck by another person going over 80 miles per hour."
Police told 5 On Your Side the crash investigation is ongoing.
The GoFundMe explained Gracie suffered "severe and life-long injuries." She broke her neck in the crash and was left paralyzed from her chin down.
It said she also has a broken pelvis, kidney failure, fluid on her lungs, and cannot breathe on her own and will require a ventilator to breath for the rest of her life. Because of this, she also will never be able to talk again unassisted.
The fundraising page read, Gracie will not be able to eat on her own and will require a feeding tube for the rest of her life. Gracie will require 24/7 care.
She was set to begin third grade this week at Pevely Elementary.
Gracie's principal, Katie Dunlap, said, "Our kids miss her terribly, her classmates have been asking about her. Super sad to start the year off without Gracie, we really miss her. We're working really hard to get cards together to send to Gracie to support her."
Gracie's grandmother, Barb, was also left paralyzed from the chest down after a spinal cord injury. She had several fractures and will need "a lot of rehabilitation," the GoFundMe said.
Barb has already had surgery for a broken hip, and C-6 and C-7 spine fracture. She also has a clavicle fracture, sternum fracture, and is currently intubated until her sternum can heal. Barb has minimal control of her arms at the moment.
Taryn was left with several injuries and has since been released and is recovering.
Several businesses and community members are holding fundraisers to help the family:
Trilogy Fance & Tumblinc Center, LLC in Pevely is holding a 50/50 raffle. Tickets will be sold Monday through Thursday 4:30-8:30 p.m. from Sept. 3-24. Click here for more information.
Irene's Florist on Telegraph Road is holding a fundraiser by selling bouquets to raise money.
A Girl Scout troop is planning a benefit for the family with raffle baskets. If you would like to donate, click here for more information.
Chalsea's Place in Imperial is also hosting a benefit in September.
Taryn's co-workers are also stepping in.
Taryn is a radiology tech at St. Luke's Urgent Care and has worked there for 16 years.
Nurse manager Kim Presson said they're all family.
"Gracie has always been Taryn's life her number one," Presson said. "Just a sweet, big-hearted beautiful loving child."
Presson told 5 On Your Side, Taryn always has a big smile on her face and she's always helping others.
Now, her team steps up for her.
The company created an internal fund for Taryn and some are giving up their own PTO for her.
Presson added, that's what family does.
"I spoke to Taryn last night, she is overwhelmed by the outpour of love and prayers and concerns and messages she is receiving. There are some things we can't control, but some things we can control and how we handle them and we're going to take care one of our own," Presson shared.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
