A young girl excitedly posed for her first-day-of-school photo but tragically died in a horrific car accident 10 minutes later.
On Tuesday 28 August, Payton Crustner from East Texas in the US, was travelling with her mother, Miranda Michelle Clark, 16-year-old brother and three-year-old sibling, when a pickup truck driven by Marcus Dukes (18) suddenly turned into oncoming traffic and collided with them, Nine News reports.
The nine-year-old, who was wearing only the bottom part of the seatbelt at the time, was flung out of the car and onto the road.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, Metro reports.
Her brother, who was sitting in the front seat with no seatbelt, was seriously injured and is currently on a ventilator. Payton’s mom and younger sibling were treated for minor injuries.
The driver of the truck was taken to hospital for minor injuries but was later released.
Police are still investigating the crash, Fox News reports.
Miranda’s friend Leandria Starr started a Facebook fundraising page to help the family pay for Payton’s funeral arrangements.
“Payton Lynn Crustner, nine years old, was taken from this world this morning before her first day of 4th Grade. Please keep this family in your prayers,” Leandria wrote on the page. “All monies donated will go to Payton's family to cover funeral expenses.”
Leandria later told local media that Payton was a happy little girl.
“She was just such a sweet kid and just very energetic. Loved wearing her little boots and I mean, she was just a little spitfire, I guess you could say.”
Sources: Metro, Daily Mail, 9News, Fox News