Injured Dakota Ridge Student Receives Money For Recovery
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - Dakota Ridge High School is receiving $15,000 after pledging to stay safe behind the wheel.
The school won a national contest following an accident at a crosswalk on Coal Mine Avenue. Student Dallas Vosburg was seriously injured in October. She was hit by a falling street sign knocked over during a car wreck.
Another Dakota Ridge student is accused of causing the accident.
Support poured in for the Teen Safe Driver Pledge Contest after Dallas was hurt. More than 8,000 pledges were signed, winning the money for Dakota Ridge.
Tuesday was Vosburg's first day back at school. She said it was pretty overwhelming but she's eager to get back to her normal routine.
Dallas' first day back came with an overwhelming show of support. During halftime at Tuesday night's basketball game, American Family Insurance presented a big check to the school's principal, Dr. Jim Jelinek.
Originally the school had planned to use the money to install a traffic light or speed bumps on Coal Mine. They wanted to use anything they could to slow down drivers near the crosswalk where Dallas was hurt.
Jefferson County has since pledged to pay for any street improvements so the school chose to donate some of the money to Vosburg and her family.
"I feel pretty overwhelmed by this whole thing happening. It's really great and I feel really supported," Vosburg said.
Vosburg was left with brain damage and vision problems as a result of the accident. Her family said the money will be used to pay for medical bills.
"I'm speechless. I stood out there on the court and I just couldn't believe the support and the standing ovation that she got," Holly Vosburg, Dallas' mom said.
The school plans to use the rest of the money for things like scholarships and safe driver education.
Dakota Ridge got a lot of support for the contest from nearby Chatfield and Columbine High Schools. Some of the money will also be given to those schools.
Meanwhile, Jefferson County is wrapping up its study of that stretch of Coal Mine to see if any street improvements would be appropriate there.
