West Valley City Teenager Macala Holloway Dies From a Traumatic Brain Injury
Fifteen-year-old Macala Holloway passed away June 6, 2010 after a difficult battle with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In early February, Macala was struck by a car on the crosswalk at 2700 West in Magna on her way to school. The force of the impact threw her nearly 100 feet, and she suffered serious injuries to her head. She was flown by helicopter to the University of Utah Medical Center in critical condition. Four months later, she passed away from her injuries.
“The sorrow and pain we are feeling right now, we cannot find words to describe it,” said Terry and Rebecca Ewell, Macala’s parents. “Our hearts are breaking – it hurts something fierce. We look at all the things she is going to miss out on. It is not fair; parents should not have to bury their children.”
Utah wrongful death attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are helping Macala's family through the legal steps of a wrongful death claim, but the medical bills and other expenses associated with this case far exceed the driver's car insurance limits. To help with these expenses, Zions Bank set up a charitable fund to assist in paying for Macala’s funeral expenses. Donations can be made at any Zions Bank branch in the name of Macala Holloway.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Terry and Rebecca Ewell as they mourn Macala’s passing. They are amazing parents and have been perfect examples on how to handle such difficult circumstances.
Implications of Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI is a serious and potentially deadly injury, leaving victims with long-term symptoms. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, over 1.4 million people sustain a TBI every year nationwide. Fifty thousand (50,000) of these victims lose their lives to TBI and another 235,000 are hospitalized.
Victims of severe TBI will suffer from a range of debilitating symptoms, including subdural hematomas, brain hemorrhaging, seizures, and severe amnesia. Even minor cases of TBI can have life-altering consequences. Minor symptoms include dizziness, short-term memory loss, depression, and personality changes. These physical symptoms are often accompanied with mental and emotional stress.
Pedestrians are at great risk for head injuries
A pedestrian has little protection against the size and force of a moving vehicle in a car accident. While bicyclists wear helmets to protect themselves from head injuries in case of an accident, pedestrians do not wear protective headgear. As such, even a low-speed collision can leave a pedestrian with deadly brain injuries.
Data gathered at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that over 61,000 pedestrians were injured in auto accidents in 2006. In Utah, pedestrian accident rates increase in the summer months, as warmer weather and school breaks leads to more pedestrian traffic along the Wasatch Front. Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians is among the leading cause of pedestrian fatalities in the United States. Always be alert when you are crossing the street and walking near busy intersections.
