Friends Honor Injured Classmate At Football Game
SOUTHWEST RANCHES (CBS4) - A teen who was seriously injured outside a Southwest Ranches high school remains in a hospitalized Friday night.
Yet, many of her fellow classmates wore light blue at the football game and held a moment of silence for her.
Palida Pongpluempitichai, or Monica Pong, as friends call her, had her right leg severed above the knee Wednesday afternoon at Archbishop McCarthy High School.
"Monica has her moments, but she's a strong girl. A young lady of immense character," said the family's attorney Jay Cohen.
Once the sedation wore off, her attorney said, Monica's first concern was for her family.
"Her first questions were, 'How is my mother, how is my father, how is my family, how are my friends dealing with this,'" Cohen said.
"We feel so sad about what happened," said Baguidy's sister, who did not want to give her first name. "We feel so bad for the family of that girl and the girl and we send our sympathy. We can't say anymore at this point. We just want our privacy. My sister is very upset."
And at Archbishop McCarthy on Thursday morning, one unidentified parent said, "It's such a shame, a real shame, and it's so sad, so sad."
"I feel real bad, it's crazy," said student Guillermo Mazon. "One second we were getting ready to leave, and then another, they held us at the school. You got to keep the faith. It's going to be OK but it is rough."
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, 17-year old Palida Pongpluempitichai, was leading a group of eighth graders who were visiting the private Catholic high school. She's a school ambassador and had just finished giving the potential students a tour of the school when she was struck by a Toyota Corolla which severed part of her right leg.
"Her leg was severed as a result of this crash when she was struck by this vehicle," said BSO spokesman Mike Jaechles.
Pongpluempitichai was taken by BSO Air Rescue helicopter to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. The hospital, however, hasn't released any information about her condition.
According to BSO traffic homicide detectives, the driver of the Corolla, 71-year-old Marie Baguidy, was there to pick up her two grandchildren. She was backing up in the outermost pickup lane when, for reasons still under investigation, the car accelerated in reverse, jumped the curb onto the sidewalk and struck Pongpluempitichai before slamming into a concrete post.
Pongpluempitichai, who was facing the school, didn't see the car coming.
"Pretty much it was an elderly lady and I don't think she really realized what she was doing. She backed up, pinned the girl against the wall," said student Daniel Ricciuli.
"You could see her holding her leg and screaming," said another student.
Fifteen-year-old student Aaron Herrera, who was facing the car, was able to dive out of the path of the car but suffered a minor hand injury and was taken to Memorial Hospital West to get checked out.
Baguidy was shaken up and also transported to Memorial West Hospital as a precaution.
BSO said the investigation could take some time.
A BSO source called this a "freak tragic accident." Charges or citations against Baguidy could include careless driving.
