In a heart-wrenching incident in Canal Winchester, Ohio, a mother's attempt to save her young son ended tragically.
Alexa Stakely, a 29-year-old mother, lost her life while courageously trying to stop carjackers who took off with her vehicle, with her child inside, Fox News reported.
Early Thursday morning, Alexa Stakely was engaged in what should have been a routine pick-up of her six-year-old son from his babysitter's home. After securing her son in the car seat of her 2022 Honda SUV, Stakely re-entered the babysitter's house at 6300 Blue Knoll Drive to gather some of his belongings. It was then that two men seized the opportunity to steal the vehicle.
Realizing her car was being stolen, Stakely jumped onto the vehicle's hood in a desperate attempt to stop the thieves, but tragically fell and sustained fatal head injuries.
The perpetrators abandoned the SUV nearby and fled on foot, and they were last seen vaulting over a fence into a neighboring apartment complex.
Shortly after the incident, authorities found Stakely's six-year-old son unharmed in the vehicle. Stakely, a dedicated single mother with a master's degree from Ohio State University, worked as a speech-language therapist at a local elementary school and part-time as a waitress to support her family.
School officials expressed their sorrow, noting Stakely's tireless dedication to her son and career. They said, "She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son."
Reflecting on Stakely's impact on school officials:
Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by many in our community and beyond. Her commitment to her work and her son exemplified what a mother and educator can be.
The incident has also sparked a broader discussion on vehicle safety, particularly regarding children left in cars. Amber Rollins, director of Kids and Car Safety, highlighted the dangers of leaving vehicles unattended. "Thieves watch for vehicles left running or unattended with the keys inside," noted Rollins.
She further advised on preventive measures for car safety, emphasizing the necessity of vigilance. Rollins added, "Most of the time, they don't realize there is a child inside until after they have stolen the vehicle," suggesting that parents always lock their doors and never leave children or pets alone.
Rollins recommended using curbside delivery services to enhance safety by minimizing risks associated with leaving cars unattended. Her advice was to call upon arrival at businesses that don't offer curbside delivery and ask them to bring your order to your car, aiming to prevent similar tragedies.
The community and Stakely's family continue to mourn her tragic loss, remembering her as a pillar of strength and care both at home and in her professional life. Local police are continuing investigations and urging anyone with information on the carjacking to come forward to assist in apprehending the suspects.
As the community mourns, it also aims to raise awareness about vehicle and child safety, striving to prevent future occurrences of similar heart-wrenching incidents.
