Tragic Homecoming: Teenage Girl's Life Hangs in the Balance After Dangerous Car Surfing Accident

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 15-year-old high school student, Ava Broadhead, is fighting for her life after a devastating car surfing accident. The incident, which occurred just days before her school's homecoming celebrations, has left her family and community in a state of shock and profound concern.

A Risky Trend with Devastating Consequences

The Accident and Its Aftermath

The incident took place on Wednesday night at Magna Regional Park, where Ava and her friends had gathered to participate in the dangerous trend of car surfing. As the car was in motion, Ava fell off the vehicle, striking her head on the pavement. The impact resulted in a severe brain injury, and Ava was immediately rushed to Primary Children's Hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery.Ava's mother, Kandis Broadhead, described the harrowing experience, stating that her daughter is now in a medically induced coma, fighting for her life. "She had an extreme brain injury and she needed to be rushed into brain surgery and it was a life-or-death surgery," Broadhead said.

The Dangers of Car Surfing

Car surfing, a reckless activity that involves individuals standing or hanging on the exterior of a moving vehicle, has been a concerning trend for years. Sgt. Aymee Race of the Unified Police Department explained the various forms of car surfing, from "kids hanging on the tops of cars to the back of cars standing up through their windows."According to Sgt. Race, the popularity of car surfing has ebbed and flowed over the years, often fueled by social media and the influence of movies. "Unfortunately, with social media, there's ebbs and flows to these types of trends and right now this trend has been picking up," she said.

The Devastating Impact on Victims and Families

Ava's mother, Kandis Broadhead, has been devastated by the incident, expressing her fears for her daughter's future. "I can't imagine a future with Ava not being Ava," she said. "It will take months if not years to, to recover from it."Broadhead has also received numerous messages from others who have experienced similar tragedies, highlighting the widespread impact of car surfing. "I have gotten upwards of 30 plus messages of people that said this happened to my nephew, this happened to my neighbor, this exact situation happened to my friend's daughter and I'm hearing that it's actually happening and they're having the same traumatic brain injuries and it's changing their courses of their lives," she said.

The Call for Awareness and Action

Both Broadhead and the police are urging the community to be aware of the dangers of car surfing and to take action to prevent such incidents from occurring. Sgt. Race emphasized the unpredictable nature of car surfing, stating, "These people who are getting on top of these cars and doing the car surfing once they fall, you know, it's unpredictable what type of injuries they can sustain."Broadhead echoed this sentiment, expressing her heartbreak over the loss of a "beautiful experience of being a teenager" in exchange for a social media video. "It's robbing them of this beautiful experience of being a teenager all for a social media video," she said.As the investigation into Ava's accident continues, the community rallies around the Broadhead family, offering support and prayers. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the grave consequences that can arise from engaging in such reckless behavior, and the urgent need for education and intervention to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.