BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A 7-year-old girl underwent emergency surgery after a car crashed into a lemonade stand where she and two other children were working Tuesday afternoon.
Annabelle Masten was critically injured around 1:20 p.m. when a multi-vehicle crash sent a car into the front yard where three girls were selling lemonade. The accident occurred just south of Morganton.
A 24-year-old Hickory woman was trying to turn left out of a driveway when she pulled into the path of an oncoming Nissan Altima. The impact pushed the Nissan off Conley Road and into the yard where the children had set up their stand.
All three girls were critically injured when the vehicle slammed into the lemonade stand. The victims were ages 7, 8, and 9 years old.
Emergency responders rushed all three children to area hospitals. Two were airlifted while the third was transported by ambulance. Annabelle suffered the most severe injuries in the crash. Paramedics later airlifted her to Mission Hospital in Asheville with life-threatening injuries.
One of Annabelle’s legs was completely shattered. Her other leg sustained a shattered ankle in the collision. Doctors performed emergency surgery to place multiple pins and screws in her legs. Additional surgeries are expected as she continues her recovery. Further, medical staff are monitoring a bleeding hematoma on Annabelle’s brain and spinal damage from the accident.
The 24-year-old woman faces charges for failure to yield the right-of-way, causing serious bodily injury. Neither driver was hurt during the collision.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues investigating the crash but said neither speed nor impairment played a role in the accident.
A fundraiser was set up to help.
