EL MIRAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — June, a Valley teen, is in the hospital with severe burns after collapsing during her walk home from school and her family is blaming the changed bus routes.
“There was no one to pick her up from school, so she had to walk home,” said Brittany Smith, June’s aunt.
She said the Dysart Unified School District bus route change has proven to be dangerous. “Some good Samaritans found her in the roadway. We are very lucky she did not get hit by a car,” Smith said.
Smith’s 17-year-old niece was walking home from school on Aug. 1 in 112-degree heat. Due to the bus route changes, she walks about 2 miles each way. June stopped at a sandwich shop to take a break and get more water before suffering heat stroke and collapsing in the street.
“She has second and third-degree burns to 16% of her body. She has burns on both sides of her body,” Smith said.
Smith explained that when two people noticed June in the road, they called 911. The good Samaritans poured water on her, trying to cool her off, until paramedics arrived. Her core body temperature was about 107 degrees. Anything above 104 can cause a coma, brain damage, cardiac arrest or death.
“We don’t know how long she was down on the asphalt before anyone saw her and called 911. And the fact that they stopped and even tried to help. They saved her life,” Smith said.
The teen was transported to a nearby burn center, where she’s been for nearly a month. Smith said June has had numerous surgeries, including skin grafting and has experienced a lot of pain during the healing process. The emotional toll has also been difficult.
“We’re really wanting to see a change across Arizona with this heat,“ Smith said.
Now, the high schooler’s family wants to make sure this doesn’t happen to another child.
“If we really don’t have the money for transportation, then maybe we need to think of just not starting in the middle of freaking summer,” Smith said.
The district said the shortened bus route changes are due to budget constraints and an aging bus fleet.
June’s family is raising money for health costs. To donate, visit their GoFundMe page.
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