Junior Emalee Childs opened her eyes to the sound of 911 dialing from her car. A numbness took over her legs lying limply underneath the airbag. As she realized what was happening, she screamed in pain and fear. Childs turned head-on into another car.

Childs’ friend junior Micala Carpenter witnessed the accident while looking for a parking spot before school on Thursday, January 19. It took her a moment to recognize who it was.

“I realized it was Emalee and I quickly pulled over to her because no one else was around helping,” Carpenter said. “I was freaking out and I was scared because I didn’t know what had happened or if she was okay and if the other person was okay.”

Carpenter then proceeded to call Childs’ mother to tell her what happened and to come quickly.

Eventually, police, paramedics, and Childs’ parents showed up on the scene. The fire department pried open the car door and told her not to move her legs in fear of a broken femur.

As she was loaded onto the ambulance, she immediately considered the worst outcomes.

“I was thinking, I broke my car, my parents are going to kill me,” Childs said. “I broke a bone and I can’t play lacrosse, but I’m just really glad nothing is broken and that my parents weren’t upset about the car.”

On the other side of the accident was Grand Haven alumnus Jordyn Ploeg. He was headed for the exit after dropping off his younger siblings at school, as he watched someone turn head on into his car.

Ploeg ended up in the ditch of rocks that separated the different parking lots. The damage done to his mini van wasn’t as serious as Childs’, who totaled the front half of her car.

Gallery • 2 Photos

The left side of Alumnus Jordyn Ploeg's car faces damage from the collision in the parking lot.

Although the accident did definite harm to the cars, both drivers came out alright. Childs has a bruised, swollen leg, head trauma and a concussion, but will recover within a couple weeks. Ploeg did not suffer any injuries.

“I was just happy that we both were going to be fine and that no one was too seriously hurt,” Ploeg said.